Yuletide: Akpabio, Senator Urge Steadfastness, Hope

*Gov. Mohammed donates N120m food items to Bauchi Christians

*Amotekun deploys 1,500 officers across Ondo State

Sunday Aborisade in Abuja, Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi and Fidelis David in Akure

The President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has urged Nigerians to remain steadfast and hopeful despite the hard times they are experiencing.
He said the pains, which Nigerians are going through, occasioned by the removal of petroleum subsidy was for the good of everyone but expressed optimism that the gains would manifest in the not too distant future.

On his part, Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed, has approved N120 million for the purchase of food items for 2023 Christmas celebration in the state.
The chairman of the distribution committee, Mr. Abdon Dallah Gin, at a press briefing held at Government House, Bauchi, weekend, explained that the items distributed by the community to the Christian community for the celebration of the forthcoming Christmas are 66 bulls, 102 rams, 1,438 (50kg) bags of rice and 189 groundnut oil packs.

Meanwhile, the Ondo State Security Network Agency codenamed Amotekun says it has deployed 1,500 officers within the State to ensure a crime free yuletide season.
The Commander of the Corps and Special Adviser to Ondo State Governor on Security Matters, Adetunji Adeleye, made the disclosure while parading twelve suspects at the Command’s Headquarters in Akure at the weekend.
According to Senate President Akpabio, “Our today’s pain will surely produce joyful gains in a very short time.” He stated this in a Christmas message issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Hon. Eseme Eyiboh.

He admonished the Christian faithful to pray, fast and be hopeful of better days ahead despite the current challenges in the country and advised Nigerians not to give up on their leaders, particularly President Bola Tinubu

“I am confident that with your prayers and support, the current administration will wipe away your tears in no distant time,” he said.
Meanwhile, other members of the 10th Senate from different political divide and religious background across the country have congratulated Christians on the occasion of the Christmas celebration.

They also urged every Nigerian to keep hope of a better 2024 alive as the current administration in the country had started reforms and policies that would ensure prosperity in the forthcoming year.
The senators included the Deputy Senate President, Jibrin Barau; Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele; former President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan; Senator Orji Uzor Kalu (Abia North); Sani Musa ( Niger East); Solomon Adeola ( Ogun West); Gbenga Daniel (Ogin East); Godiya Akwashiki (Nasarawa North) and Natasha Akpoti Uduaghan (Kogi Central).

The Deputy President of the Senate rejoiced with Christians and all Nigerian citizens to intensify prayers for the peace, unity and progress of the country.  
He specifically appealed to Nigerians to rekindle their trust in the Renewed Hope Agenda under the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The Senate Leader preached peaceful co-existence among all ethnic nationalities across the federation, warning that no country could witness development progress in an atmosphere of ethnic disharmony.

Bamidele also urged the Christian faithful to imbibe the teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ, who graciously laid down His lives for all, irrespective of our religious leanings, to reconcile us with God Almighty.
Gbenga Daniel on his part said, “As Christians, we have an important role to play in keeping that faith alongside all the lessons and teaching it offers.
“As Nigerians, we must show the love and purity that encapsulate the life and time of Jesus not just amongst ourselves but also amongst others irrespective of beliefs.”

Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan lauded Nigerians for their resilience in the face of the challenges facing the nation, urging them to embrace love and unity.
“Christmas reminds us of the reason for the season. It’s a time to inspire hope and spread the message of love, she said.

Mr. Gin who is the Special Adviser to the Governor on Civil Service matters, recalled that, since coming on board in 2019, the administration of Governor Bala Mohammed has established a tradition of providing food items to the Christian community for a pleasant commemoration of the birth of Jesus Christ every year.
He said as usual, the committee has allocated a substantial portion of the food items to CAN which also allocates to all the five blocs across the state, and mentioned other beneficiaries of the governor’s kind gesture to include Christian government functionaries, relevant federal government functionaries and other Christian groups and associations.
His words: “Accordingly, these items, this year, were equitably distributed across the state and beyond by the standing Committee. Understandably, the Local Government Caretaker committees are complimenting this gesture by giving Christians gifts in their respective Christian communities.
“It is also gratifying to note that, as the Christmas gift items were being distributed, His Excellency, the Governor approved the release of December salaries to Civil Servants/Public Officers to assist them make purchases during this yuletide period.
“The Committee therefore, wishes to use this medium to thank Governor Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed, CON and his entire government for this benevolence. We also appreciate the open and accommodating posture that has thrown away primordial sentiments thereby treating people of the State with tremendous love and care to the extent that everybody is having a sense of belonging, with the consequent effect that peace reigns supreme in this multi ethnic state.
“Other ethnic groups resident in Bauchi State and people with special needs, that require close attention, are among the beneficiaries of the laudable gesture in this festive season which personifies love and togetherness.”
The Commander of the Corps and Special Adviser to Ondo State Governor on Security Matters, Adetunji Adeleye, said: “To the grace of God, the yuletide festivities will be peaceful and I want to assure the good people of Ondo State, that all hands of all security agencies in the state which include the Army, DSS, the Nigeria Police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC and Amotekun Corps are on deck to guarantee 24-hour patrol and safety of lives and property of residents and commuters in the state.
“On the part of Amotekun Corps, we had embarked on a – 24-hr, seven days per week of security patrol of all nooks and crannies of the state and I must tell you that our efforts are yielding results. We went on patrol yesterday and to the glory of God, we arrested a team contracted all the way from Edo State to come and destabilize our peaceful state.
“We caught them in the act of the planning with weapons in the hotel where they were to take off from at 3:00am yesterday. We also have two different groups that specialise in stealing cars and motorbikes and we were able to dismantle them.
Speaking on the 12 suspects arrested for alleged criminal offences ranging from kidnapping, armed robbery among others, he said, “From the twelve being  paraded today, seven of them were arrested in Owo and out of the arrested seven, four of them were contracted with the job of kidnapping and armed robbery in Ondo State by the remaining three.
“We were able to apprehend them with their riffles, camouflage they used in deceiving unsuspecting commuters on the road and they have made lots of confessional statements. We also have a syndicate that specialises in the robbery of Okada in Akure and Akoko areas.
Our efforts so far are to drive home our position of zero-tolerance to all forms of criminalities and crimes in Ondo State. We want to further assure the good people of the state, that all security agencies are working in synergy to ensure that this yuletide period is crime free.
He however, appealed to residents to ensure moderation while celebrating the yuletide and endeavour to “say something, when they see something strange”
“They should feed us with quality information so that we can act swiftly on the tips and their safety is guaranteed for giving us useful information. Our distress line number remains: 08079999989.”