Jonathan, Osinbajo, Dogara, Task Christians on Unity, Sacrifice

Our Correspondents

Former President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara and Deputy Speaker, Hon. Yussuf Lasun, have urged Nigerians to show love and tolerance for each other, especially for those God has seen fit to put in positions of influence.

In his Easter message yesterday, Jonathan advised leaders to imbibe the qualities of Jesus Christ whose resurrection we celebrate.

He added that even though Christ was heavily reviled and criticised, He never retaliated and even prayed for those who reviled Him.

The former president said: “On this Easter Sunday, I urge all Nigerians to show love and tolerance for each other, especially for those God has seen fit to put in positions of influence.

“Leaders should imbibe the qualities of our Lord and Saviour, whose resurrection we celebrate. Even though He was heavily reviled and criticised, He never retaliated and even prayed for those who reviled Him.

“Nigerians are not animal. Together, we are perhaps some of the most decent, Godly and accommodating people on God’s earth. We must never forget that. He is risen and Nigeria will also rise.”

Also, Osinbajo said as the world marked the death and resurrection of Jesus yesterday, Nigeria was equally on the path of resurrection and progress.

Osinbajo who made the remark while answering questions from journalists   after the Easter service at the Aso Rock Chapel, said the resurrection of Jesus Christ implied that the country was moving out of its present challenges to a path of greater hope and peace.

‘’The resurrection of Jesus Christ is also a strong and powerful message to the nation.

‘’The message is that our nation is on the path of resurrection, it’s on the path of progress, it’s on the path of elevation.

‘’We are moving out from all our challenges and we are going to a place of greater hope, peace and prosperity and abundance for all of us,” he said.

On his part, Dogara tasked Christians to embrace peace, unity and sacrifice as they mark Easter in commemoration of the crucifixion, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

He urged Christians to emulate the selfless sacrifice which Jesus made for mankind.

In a press statement to mark the event, he asked Nigerians to show unity, love and sacrifice for the unity and development of the country.

Dogara said: “As we celebrate the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross of calvary for the redemption of our souls, I urge you all to draw lessons  from the selfless service of Christ.

“It is important that such love that Jesus Christ had for mankind to lay down his life for us is what we must show to one another, irrespective of tribe, status or religion.

“It is by so doing that Nigeria can grow in peace and attain only meaningful progress.”

Also, Lasun enjoined Nigerians to embrace the spirit behind Easter celebration.

Tambuwal Urges Nigerians to Stand up for Vulnerable, Downtrodden

Sokoto State Governor, Alhaji Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, has urged Nigerians to use the Easter period to stand up for all those who have found themselves in vulnerable situations in the country and other parts of the world.

This was contained in  a message to commemorate this year’s Easter period issued in Sokoto yesterday by his spokesman, Malam Imam Imam.

The governor said all members of the society should make sacrifices that would advance the cause of the vulnerable and the downtrodden.

“Easter is a period of divine. We should spread that love around by praying, and standing up to victims of circumstance that have found themselves in vulnerable situations within us and elsewhere.

“We can do this by working closely with charity organisations to give them hope, courage and the will to be strong.

“Doing this will make Nigeria and the world a better place to live in,” the statement read.

Tambuwal to this end, congratulated Nigerians, especially those of Christian faith for the Easter celebration.

He restated the commitment of his administration to implementing policies and programmes that would positively impact on the lives of the people.

Love One Another, Obi Tells Nigerians

Former Governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, has described Easter celebration as an opportunity for the government  and the people to exhibit love and commitment to nation building.

In his Easter message, Obi said  besides celebrating the death and resurrection of Christ, that Easter encapsulated the highest exemplification of love and sacrifice for the good of others.

While urging Christians to use the occasion of Easter celebration to reflect on the sacrifice of Christ for the salvation of mankind, the former governor said that it was a time for sharing and remembering the less privileged among the people as Christ remembered us always. 

“I have always maintained that religious celebrations have deeper significance mostly bothering on love. Though people now attach Epicurean angle to all celebrations, but the fact of their origin and very conception, such as Easter, show they truly beckon on us to show love and treat one another with becoming kindness.”

Obi prayed for the deepening of the commitment toward the governed by the government so that Nigeria will in no distant time record  improvements commensurate with its human and natural resources .

He said this Easter particularly offers Nigerians the opportunity to think about their country and realise that the progress of the country was dependent on Nigerians working together in the spirit of love rather than building, encouraging and nurturing the culture of hate and retrogression.