Saraki, Dogara, Ekweremadu, Others Greet Christians at Christmas

As Christians join others around the world to celebrate Christmas, Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, and others have felicitated with as they celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.

Saraki, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Yusuph Olaniyonu, also urged Christians to use the festive occasion to pray for unity, peace and prosperity of the country.

He called on all Nigerians to rededicate themselves to the service of humanity in line with the true teachings of Jesus Christ which emphasise tolerance, patience, brotherly kindness, care for the needy and love for one another, among other virtues.

Similarly, Dogara challenged Christian faithful to remember to show love to their neighbours and underprivileged as they celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.

In a statement to mark the Christmas, Speaker said the Lord Jesus Christ was an embodiment of sacrificial love to the point that He gave His life for the redemption of mankind.

He said: “As we celebrate the birth of our Saviour, Jesus Christ, let us all remember that it is a time to spread the love of Christ with family, friends, neighbours and the underprivileged in the society.

On his part, Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, urged Nigerians to emulate the great virtues of humility, love, peace, forgiveness, and reconciliation.

He said these were the real reasons for the coming of Jesus Christ.

Ekweremadu, who made the call in his Christmas message to Nigerians, said Christmas was an opportunity to reflect on the humility of Christ and limitless love of God, who gave his only begotten son to be born as man in order to save and reconcile mankind unto Himself.

While wishing Christian faithful and indeed all Nigerians a merry Christmas, Ekweremadu also prayed God to guide the nation’s leaders on the path of Christly virtues of humility, fairness, justice, and kindness for the peace and speedy development of the country.

Also, House Deputy Speaker, Hon. Sulaimon Lasun, also urged Christians to reflect on the birth of Christ and imbibe His preaching on peace and love.

He said: “I rejoice with all Nigerians in general and every Christian family in particular as we celebrate another Christmas in the land of the living, and I pray that the joy associated with the season will be your portion.

“The belief generally is that the joy of Christmas is not limited to His unprecedented and miraculous birth, but is personality and activities which gave credence to His birth.

Lasun, however, urged Nigerians, irrespective of their religious inclination, to learn how to tolerate each other and live together as one indivisible entity.

Tinubu Calls for Support for Buhari

All Progressives Congress (APC) National Leader, Senator Bola Tinubu, has called for support for President Muhammadu Buhari so that the country can overcome its current challenges.

He urged Nigerians to learn from the example of Jesus Christ “who faced and overcame the greatest evil” by uniting to overcome our challenges.

Tinubu’s message on the occasion of Christmas was issued yesterday by his Media Office in Lagos.

In the message, the APC leader said: “Today, Christmas Day, is one of the most precious days of the year for it celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ. Be you Christian, Muslim or just a human being with a soul that yearns for peace, compassion and hope, Jesus Christ belongs to all of us. His teachings are universal in application and speak of truths eternal.

“This Christmas, let us acknowledge his birth but let us also give that acknowledgement its fullest meaning by recognising how Jesus lived and what he lived for. He reached out to all. Jesus fed the poor and healed the sick. He spread compassion and charity and preached love and justice. There are no finer aims than these and we can do no better than to do all we can to follow his example.

“Let us all embrace and spread the gospel of love, tolerance and forgiveness this season and into the New Year. We must commit ourselves to peace and unity. Let us eschew all bitterness and bigotry.”

He added that “the challenges that face the country currently are difficult ones. But we keep the hope. We must learn from the example of Jesus who faced and overcame the greatest evil. So let us unite to overcome our challenges.

“We must support President Buhari and complement his efforts in his resolve to stimulate the economy and reposition the country. The president needs our support, understanding and prayers. We must fully break the terrorism of Boko Haram and completely put down the last vestiges of the terrorists. I wish you all a joyous Christmas.”

Okowa Sues for Peace, Love

Delta State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, has congratulated Nigerians on the occasion of this Christmas saying it’s a season to celebrate peaceful co-existence and to show to love to one another.

The governor’s message was contained in a statement yesterday in Asaba by his Chief Press Secretary, Charles Aniagwu, wherein he tasked Christians to offer special prayers during the yuletide for greater peace, love, unity, peaceful co-existence and progress of Nigeria.

Okowa said: “I call on all Christians and indeed and all residents in the state to reflect on the virtues and teachings of Jesus Christ in their lives and activities so that Nigeria and indeed the world would be a better place for all of us. I congratulate all Christians for witnessing yet another Christmas season. I advise all of you to use the festive period for sober reflections and total spiritual renewals and devotion towards living in peace and harmony with adherents of other religions.

“The birth of Jesus Christ being celebrated at Christmas should be used to promote peace, love, understanding and unity, including the display of the spirit of tolerance in the accomplishment of our vision of building a better State and country.”

The governor commended Christian religious leaders and their counterparts of other faiths in the state for conducting themselves peacefully in their religious activities and for joining government in promoting religious and ethnic harmony in the state.

Wike Advocates Love, Friendship and Peace

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has urged Nigerians to use this year’s Christmas to promote love, friendship, peace and reconciliation. In his Christmas Message, Wike said the season exemplifies love, advising that Nigerians should always love one another.

In a statement by the Special Assistant to the state governor on Electronic Media, Simeon Nwakaudu, he particularly urged Rivers’ people to use this year’s Christmas to erect platforms of love, peace and reconciliation for the greater development of the state.

The governor advised the people to pray for the state and the government to enjoy greater peace in order to consolidate on its developmental programmes that have made the state first among equals.

He assured the people of the state that he would remain focused in his delivery of pro-people projects and programmes to improve their standard of living.

Mark Preaches Renewal, Hope

Former Senate President, Senator David Mark, has implored Nigerians to see today’s celebration of Christmas as a period of renewal, urging them not to despair amid prevalent economic and socio-political challenges facing the country.

Mark, in his goodwill Christmas message signed by his Media Assistant, Paul Mumeh, said the birth of Christ should be the elixir needed to confront such challenges, adding that this Christmas provides Nigerians with the platform for a reinforcement of the indomitable spirit with which they had surmounted various travails of the past. He implored citizens to embrace the teachings of Christ, chief of which he described as perseverance, tolerance, love and forgiveness.

He also called for good neighbourliness and harmonious relationships among religious adherents, saying “as much as I know, all religions preach peace, love and mutual co-existence.”

He enjoined clerics from all religions to preach peace, love and harmonious relationship among followers to avoid occasional conflicts between or among different faithful.

Shettima: Let’s Renew Empathy for Victims, Families of Heroes, Education of 52,000 Orphans

Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima, has wished Nigerians a memorable Christmas with a call on residents of the state to use the religious festival to renew kindness to victims of Boko Haram insurgency particularly the displaced civilians and families of armed forces and volunteers who sacrificed their lives fighting insurgents in the Northeast.

The governor also called on citizens to re-dedicate concern for the education of over 52,000 school-aged children whose parents were killed by Boko Haram terrorists.

In Shettima’s Christmas message which was emailed to journalists by his spokesman, Isa Gusau, he urged Nigerians to use the festival to show love in whatever form to victims of the insurgency in hospitals, within IDP camps, or those living outside camps.

Dickson Calls on Leaders to Work for the Good of Ordinary People                        

Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State has felicitated with Christians as they celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.                                                        

In a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Francis Agbo, Dickson urged Nigerians to live a Christ-like life, which he noted was a life of sacrifice, selfless service, love and forgiveness.

He called on Nigerians and particularly, Bayelsans to use the Christmas celebration to intensify prayers for the peace and security of the state and the country in general.

The governor also called on political leaders to emulate Jesus Christ, who he said used His ministry for the good of all, by using their offices to advance the cause of the ordinary people.                    

He said: “Service to man is service to God; he that serves man well, serves God well.”

Tambuwal’s Christmas Message

Governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, has admonished all Nigerians to be their brothers’ keepers and shun vices that could jeopardise efforts of the government to provide conducive atmosphere for the citizens to realise their life objectives. In a Christmas message issued yesterday by his spokesman, Malam Imam Imam, Tambuwal enjoined his countrymen and women to continue to reflect on the positive tenets that unite the country and strengthen the polity.

“This period calls for introspection and continued prayers for our dear nation. We must ponder on the teachings and lessons of Christmas by exhibiting good character at all times. We should also extend hands of fellowship and build blocks of unity and understanding, irrespective of our perceived differences,” the governor said.

21,000 Persons Get N10,000 Xmas Cash Gift in Bayelsa

The Bayelsa State Government has presented a cash gift ‘ Christmas Support’ ranging from N5,000 to N10,000  to about 21,000 persons in the 105 wards of the state.

Many of the beneficiaries who got the cash gift from Governor Seriake Dickson, it was gathered, comprised local leaders, elders, women and youths in the various communities irrespective of party affiliations.

In his reaction to the gesture, Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Bayelsa State, Mr. Cleopas Moses, said the act which stretched across the eight local government areas in the state, will go a long way to ensure that they celebrate Christmas with their families at this very trying time of the year.

He said the way the governor took charge of the process ensured that those the stipends were meant for got it.

The PDP chairman called on all its members in the House of Assembly to emulate the executive arm of government by extending similar gestures to their constituents. “I want to call on all our elected representatives at the State and National level to emulate the governor by extending similar support and gestures to all our people at the grassroots. We all must play our part to help put smiles on the faces our people at the grassroots. These are indeed trying times for all of us but it is even more for the ordinary people,” he said.

Similarly, the government has felicitated with Christians in the state on the occasion of the birth of Jesus Christ, saying it is another time to think and reflect deeply on the life and times of the saviour of mankind.

The state Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Daniel Iworiso-Markson in a Christmas message on behalf of the government enjoined Christians in the state to continue to pray for the peace, progress and stability of Bayelsa and Nigeria.

The statement also admonished Christians to always uphold the universal attributes of peace, love and sacrifice, which Christ stood for, propagated and died for throughout his life time.

Amosun Calls for Peace, Love and Forgiveness

Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, has urged Christian faithful to exhibit the spirit of peace, love and forgiveness all through the Christmas celebration and beyond.

Amosun said this in his Christmas message signed by the state Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Otunba Adedayo Adeneye, noting that these were the values that Jesus Christ preached and exhibited all through His sojourn on earth.

According to him, “As we mark the Christmas, all true Christians must remember the reason for the season as well as the person, whose birth we are celebrating, who is Jesus Christ.

“Jesus Christ went about preaching peace, love and need for us to forgive those who trespass against us. If this is not evident in our lives, as we mark the Christmas and thereafter, then, we have only embarked on a jamboree.

He therefore enjoined Christians to pledge to continue to live in peace, renew their love for Nigeria as well as for one another.

Al-Makura: Christians Should Imbibe the Spirit, Teachings of the Season

As Christians in Nasarawa State celebrate the feast of Christmas in commemoration of the birth of Jesus Christ, the state Governor, Umaru Tanko Al-Makura, has enjoined them to imbibe the spirit and teachings of the season.

He said they could do so by showing love and affection as well as extending hand of fellowship and goodwill to all the people at all times.

Al-Makura stated this in his Christmas goodwill message to the Christian community in the state, adding that the birth of Jesus Christ symbolizes humility, love and peace.

“It is in this regard that Jesus Christ personifies selflessness, good neighborliness, charity and reconciliation among humanity.  This season is therefore a period for sober reflection and reaffirmation of moral values as exemplified by Jesus Christ,” Al-Makura said.

Obi Felicitates with Christians

The former Governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi, has felicitated with Christians on the Christmas celebration, reminding them to remember the poor among them.

The full text of his speech read: “On this happy occasion of Christmas, we Christians are called upon to reflect on the mystery of our salvation, which started with the birth of Christ and culminated in His death and resurrection.

“This period of  yuletide calls for celebration. But, more importantly, it offers us the opportunity to live the ideals of charity and peace, which Christ preached. It is also an opportunity to remember the poor amongst us.”

“Let us all reach out and touch somebody else in a positive way. Let us give a hand to the less fortunate, that they may rise and walk with us”

“Yet, even as we celebrate, we must bear in mind the challenges that face our dear State in the coming year and prepare adequately to confront and master them.”

Akintola Preaches Love, Peace

As Christians in Oyo State join the rest of the world today to celebrate Christmas, legal icon and leading aspirant for All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship ticket in the state in the 2019 general election, Chief Adeniyi Akintola (SAN), has enjoined Nigerians to embrace the virtues of love and peaceful co-existence that the season symbolises.

Akintola in his Christmas goodwill message urged Nigerians to also seize the moment to reach out to fellow Nigerians who are in need.

He said despite the economic challenges, Nigeria  is still making steady progress, and therefore urged Nigerians not to lose faith in their belief that the country would experience better days ahead.

The Senior Advocate of Nigeria said: “The season of Christmas is one that exemplifies the virtues of love and peaceful co-existence. We must continue to extend a hand of love, benevolence and live as one family, irrespective of our faith.”

Alli, Ex-Oyo SSG Calls for Sober Reflection

A frontline politician in Oyo State and former Secretary to the State Government, Chief Sharafadeen Abiodun Alli, has called for sober reflection on the part of the leaders across the country as fuel scarcity with its attendant hike in the economic lives of citizenry threaten this year’s Christmas and New Year’s festivities.

Alli, a former Chairman of Odu’a Investment Company limited, told journalists in Ibadan that “the cost of living has reached an alarming rate and that this calls for sober reflection on the part of Nigerian leaders. The mass of our people are groaning in silence as many are languishing in abject poverty with no hope of survival.

“It is so sad that the federal government has failed to live up to its billing of providing responsible leadership to the hapless citizens. The situation becomes more intense and very unfavourable now that the Christmas and New Year festivities are on. One wonders how we sunk to this sorry level with abundance of human and material resources God deposited in this land.”

Alli, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who admonished citizens to pray for a greater tomorrow where life will be in abundance for all, also congratulated all Christians on this year’s celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ.

FCT Minister Espouses Unity, Peace

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Malam Muhammad Musa Bello, has enjoined all Christian residents in the territory to use the occasion of the Christmas to reflect and to rededicate themselves to the virtues of love, unity and peace.

He gave this charge in his Christmas message to FCT residents during the festivities.  In the statement signed yesterday by his Chief Press Secretary, Cosmas Uzodinma, Bello described these virtues as the recurrent themes of the message of Jesus Christ.

He said: “On behalf of the administration of the FCT, it is my pleasure to wish all FCT citizens, especially the Christian faithful, a merry Christmas.” Bello appealed to all Nigerians, especially the Christian faithful, to use the season to pray for our leaders and indeed our country so that we may enjoy peace and progress in the coming years.

Let’s Keep Hope Alive, Gbenga Daniel Urges Nigerians at Xmas.

As Christians all over the world celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, the immediate past governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, has urged Nigerians to keep their hope alive despite challenges facing the country and the world at large.

In his message to the people, he stated that “Christmas was the time to rediscover and rededicate ourselves to love, peace, unity, equity and justice.” The lessons of humility, selflessness, love and simplicity learnt from the birth of Jesus Christ, he stated, “should be our guiding principles” urging those in position of affluence to return to a more simple life in emulation of the unique experience of Jesus Christ who was born in a manger. Daniel, who is the Asiwaju of Remo Christians, also urged Nigerians to use the occasion to offer special prayers for peace to reign in the country and the world at large.

Obaseki Urges Christians to Uphold Spirit of  the Season

As Christians celebrate Christmas today, the Governor of Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has extended good wishes to the faithful in the state and all over the world, urging them to uphold the spirit of the season. Obaseki, in a Christmas message yesterday, wished Christians “the beauty and peace which the birth of Jesus Christ signifies.”

He explained that the birth of Jesus Christ is significant to Christians as His life symbolises redemption from condemnation and reconciliation with God, hence the celebration.

The governor enjoined Christians to extend the love, which he described as the hallmark of the Christian faith, to their neighbours and everyone they encounter in their businesses and work places.

“As we celebrate, let us reflect on the life of Jesus Christ and imbibe his self-sacrificing spirit, his entire life of peace even in the face of adversity and his love for mankind,” the governor added.