President Goodluck Jonathan has urged politicians in the country to be more statesman-like and conduct issues-based campaigns for the 2015 general elections rather than promoting lies, division and hatred in the build-up to the elections.Jonathan also urged Nigerians to harp on the spirit of Christmas and offer special prayers for a greater manifestation of divine peace in the country “and the vanquishing of all demons of hatred, divisiveness and disunity in our midst”.
In his Christmas message to the nation, Jonathan reassured Nigerians that his administration will give the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) all necessary support to enable it conduct a “credible and acceptable elections in 2015”.
He also urged Nigerians to use the Christmas season to offer special prayers for all “women and children who have suffered and continue to suffer untold hardship, deprivation and death at the hands of terrorists and insurgents.
He said, “To my mind, there can be no doubt that the greater internalisation of the virtues of love for fellowmen, tolerance, Godliness, honesty, fairness to others, selflessness, and peaceful co-existence with others by all adult Nigerians, and the inculcation of the same in our youth, will definitely help our dear nation to overcome most of its present challenges.”
Tasking politicians on issue based campaigns, Jonathan said, “I urge our political class to be law- abiding and place the greater interests of our nation above all personal or sectional interests in the countdown to the elections.
Nigerians Celebrating Christmas In Poverty, Savage Assault – Buhari
The All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Gen Muhammadu Buhari has regretted that majority of Nigerians will be celebrating today’s Christmas in abject poverty and misery.
According to him, Nigerians are living under this poor condition, “not because they have committed any grievous sin, but because the system of production and distribution of national resources have been rigged against the vast majority of our people”.
The former head of state, who made this observation in his Christmas message to the nation yesterday wondered why “in a nation where a few individuals could raise N21billion because they want to make their friend president, millions of citizens, who truly own the resources being accumulated by a few, are left to suffer in sorrow, tears and blood”.
Buhari expressed dismay that the Christmas celebration was taking place at a period of serious security challenges across the length and breadth of the country.
He however promised, that the 2015 Christmas celebration will be better for Nigerians.
He said, “We promise that, by Christmas 2015 administration would have brought our efficiency in management and allocation of public resources to make the inter-state roads smoother and easier to ride”.
Mark Sues For Peace
The president of the Senate, Senator David Mark, has called on all Nigerians to emulate the virtues of love, peace and tolerance as a reflection of the holy season of Christmas.
In his Christmas message yesterday, Mark said as Nigerians join their counterparts all over the world to celebrate the birth of the Jesus Christ today, there is the need to love one another and leave together in a peaceful atmosphere.
Pray For Peaceful Polls, End Of Insurgency – Tambuwal
For his part, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Aminu Tambuwal, has urged Nigerians to use the occasion of this year’s Christmas celebrations to pray for the successful conduct of the 2015 general elections.
Tambuwal, in a message to commemorate the yelutide season issued by his special adviser on media and public affairs, Imam Imam, yesterday, urged Nigerians to seek God’s intervention for the end of the current security challenges confronting the nation.
“We should all pray for the successful conduct of the 2015 general elections because candidates who emerged through free, fair and credible exercise are more likely to serve the interest of the nation,” he added
There Is Hope Of Better Times Ahead – Oritsejafor
The President of Christians Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, has felicitated with Christians and all Nigerians on the on the occasion of today’s Christmas celebrations saying the season holds a message of hope for better times ahead.
Oritsejafor, in a statement made available to LEADERSHIP yesterday, said on behalf of his family and the national executives of the apex Christian body, CAN, stated that he felicitates with fellow brothers and sisters and indeed all Nigerians. He called on them to allow the spirit of the season to permeate the fabrics of the society.
Sultan Felicitates With Christians
As Christians in Nigeria join their counterparts all over the world to celebrate today’s Christmas, the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) has urged them to dwell more on the spiritual significance of the moment rather than the festivities that had over the years become associated with the great and symbolic event, which is the birth of the world’s saviour.
The Nigerian Muslims ummah under the leadership of the President-General of the NSCIA, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar (III), in a statement yesterday, felicitate with Christians on the occasion of 2014 Christmas while wishing them God’s guidance and abundant blessings embedded in the festive season.
Yero Urges Christians To Pray For Peaceful Elections, National Unity
Kaduna State governor, Mukhtar Ramalan Yero, has called on the entire Christian community in Kaduna State to use the Christmas season in praying for peaceful conduct of next year’s general elections and the unity of the state and Nigeria in general.
Governor Yero stressed that peaceful conduct of 2015 general elections is critical to sustaining peace and harmony not only in the state but the country at large.
Gov Amosun For Peace
Ogun State governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, has called on Nigerians to seek for peace as Christians all over world over celebrate Christmas.
In a statement signed by the senior special assistant to the governor on media and publicity, Funmi Wakama, yesterday, the governor asked Nigerians to pray for peace as the country moves towards 2015.
Yuletide Represents Hope, New Beginning – Suswam
Benue State governor Gabriel Suswam has appealed to Christians to embrace love and hope for rapid national development. He urged them to rededicate themselves to core Christian values and forgive one another.
Suswam said that the yuletide season represents hope and new beginning in the affairs of mankind as taught by Jesus Christ of Nazareth, saying that family members should share and care for another to showcase God’s unconditional mercy for the people.
Imoke Preaches Peace, Tolerance
Cross River State governor Liyel Imoke has urged Christians to reflect on the significance of Christmas brought about by the birth of Jesus Christ and its redemptive hope for humanity.
In a goodwill message by his chief press secretary, Christian Ita, Imoke urged Christians to use the opportunity of the Christmas celebration to rededicate themselves to the values of love, peace, sacrifice and tolerance as embodied in the birth of the Saviour, Jesus Christ.
Amaechi Preaches Love, Political Tolerance
Rivers State governor and chairman of Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), Rotimi Amaechi, has called on Christians to imbibe the spirit of oneness and political tolerance as they celebrate this year’s Christmas.
Amaechi, in a statement by his chief press secretary, David Iyofor, urged all Christian faithful to be fervent in praying for Nigeria to achieve the desired change the country yearns for in 2015.
Remember Victims of Insurgency, PDP Urges Nigerians
The ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has appealed to all Nigerians to usethe end of year festivities and the occasion of this year’s Christmas celebrations to remember victims of insurgency in the country, share in their grief as well as bring succour to the survivors and families of the deceased.
The party, in a statement signed by its national publicity secretary, Olisa Metuh, yesterday, specifically implored Nigerians to extend this gesture to the families of dead as well as wounded officers and men of the Nigerian security forces.
Elaborating on the choice of its theme for this year’s Christmas message, the PDP said its place as the only truly national political party which is in custody of the popular mandate of Nigerians, demands that it aligns always with the dominant mood of the people at all times.
APC To Nigerians: This Is Your Last Christmas In Bondage
Also, the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) has assured Nigerians that this will be their last Christmas celebration under the bondage of insecurity, corruption, unemployment, widespread hopelessness and poor leadership.
In a Christmas message to Nigerians, contained in a statement issued in Abuja yesterday by its national publicity secretary, Lai Mohammed, the APC said hope is in the horizon for the millions of Nigerians who could not celebrate this year due to the prevailing gloomy atmosphere across the land.
The party said, ‘’Many cannot travel home due to fears of kidnapping, ethno-religious crisis and insurgency, depending on which part of the country they are from. Many cannot celebrate due to the effects of the economic downturn, as manifested in weakening Naira and falling oil prices, both exacerbated by widespread corruption.
‘’While there is no magic wand to solve the myriad of problems facing our country in one fell swoop, an APC government will begin to positively impact on the citizenry within its first few months at the helm, to such an extent that Nigerians will have a better Christmas celebration in 2015.’’
US Warns Citizens Over Insecurity
As Christmas is being celebrated all over the world today, the United States Mission in Nigeria has advised all US citizens in the country to remain vigilant and maintain awareness of their surroundings.
This warning is coming on the heels of the recent terrorist attacks in Northern parts of Nigeria.
In a statement by the Mission yesterday, the US citizens are advised to be particularly vigilant around places of worship, locations where large crowds may gather, government facilities, and areas frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers.
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