Governors, President Muhammadu Buhari, and the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) have urged Nigerians to celebrate Christmas this year by being kind to one another and living in peace.
Buhari asked everyone to put aside their differences and enjoy the pleasure and love that the holiday season brings in his message on Saturday.
On the occasion of this year’s Christmas, I heartily celebrate with our Christian brothers and sisters, said Buhari, who will leave office in 2019.
Many of us look forward to the holiday season because it gives us a chance to travel, give and receive gifts, spend time with family and friends, go to special carol services and events, and think about all the good times we’ve had this year. Christmas is a time when we gather together to celebrate and put aside our differences, no matter the circumstances.
He added that the past seven Christmases had brought him some special memories, with the 2022 celebration being his last as the president of Nigeria.
After Buhari’s comment, CAN sent another message of support to the country, which it said was in a “precarious situation.”
Nigeria is afflicted by a number of issues, including insecurity and a challenging economy, according to the message’s signatory, Archbishop Daniel Okoh of the CAN.
The rate of inflation is currently over 21%, which is the highest level since 2005. According to the most recent official statistics, 133 million Nigerians, or 63 percent of the country’s population, live in “multidimensional poverty,” a measure that takes child mortality, access to electricity, and clean water into account.
Even so, the umbrella Christian organization told “religious and political leaders, as well as the media, to use this Christmas season to strengthen the hope of the masses for a better, safer Nigeria by 2023.”
“Let the Christmas season be a time to strengthen ourselves and one another, to remind one another that no adversity is too great for Jesus to handle, to offer comfort to the oppressed, to give hope to the hopeless, and to be the voice of the voiceless.
The birth of our Lord was foretold in prophecies, which give us hope that He will always be with us, save us from all problems, and restore the honor and happiness of our beloved country, Nigeria.
In their Christmas messages, state governors also reaffirmed love and hope, assuring Nigerians that despite the nation’s many challenges on various fronts, things will turn out better.
Governor Nyesom Wike said, “I join the Christians in our dear Rivers State and all over the world in celebrating Christmas.
“Let’s show the same love and generosity as the Lord Jesus Christ by reaching out to those who are less fortunate as we remember the real reason for this wonderful festival.”
Abubakar Bello, the governor of Niger State, said that Christmas is a time of love, kindness, sacrifice, selflessness, and forgiveness, among other things.
“I’m happy with all Christians on this wonderful day when we remember the birth of Jesus Christ.I urge all Nigerien citizens to take this time to reflect on and put these values into practice in order to build a better society because they are the foundation of the celebration.
Governor Ademola Adeleke, along with his colleague from Niger, told Nigerians not to forget what the season is really about.
“This season offers us yet another chance to recommit to the central message of Jesus Christ, which is love. We will be able to live in harmony and tolerate one another’s differences with ease if we are in love, which is the secret to success, he continued.
“As much as I enjoy the joy of the season, may I ask that we remember its true meaning and make sure we take advantage of the opportunity to get to know our neighbors and do even more to help the less fortunate.”
In his Christmas message to Lagosians, Governor Sanwo-Olu said, “I simply want to assure our residents that the administration and the people of Lagos State will continue to be law-abiding.”
“We shall continue to live in peace and harmony among ourselves. As we enter this holiday season, let us enjoy in moderation, remember that it is a time for us to reflect, and make sure that the coming of the New Year will bring us bigger and better things.”
