YULETIDE: Please Drive Carefully, Buhari Begs Nigerians

President Mohammadu Buhari has urged Christians in the country and across the globe to use the occasion of Christmas for sober reflection towards synchronizing with the virtues and principles of Jesus Christ which he noted include love, peace, charity, humility, sacrifice and justice.

Buhari in his goodwill message on Christmas clearly preached for unity, brotherly love and exemplary life among Nigerians irrespective of tribe or religion noting that the togetherness as a nation was not by accident as believed in some quarters instead by divinity. 

He said, “I felicitate with all Nigerians, especially our Christian brothers and sisters on the joyous occasion of this year’s Christmas. On this occasion of the commemoration of the birth of Jesus Christ, let us all rededicate ourselves to the virtues of peace, love, honesty, justice, equity, piety, humility and service to others which He taught. There can be no doubt that a greater manifestation of these virtues and ideals in our lives will immensely help us to become a more united, peaceful, secure and progressive nation.”

He specifically enjoined Nigerians to use the occasion of the celebration to remember fellow citizens in unpleasant situations including the Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs and other victims of the dreaded terrorist group, Boko Haram pledging that the federal government will continue to collaborate with state governments and other stakeholders towards bringing succor to the plights of those in the IDPs camps. Emphatically, he assured that the insurgency and miserable condition of lives at the IDPs will soon become history as his administration is assiduously working to bring it to a perpetual end.

Reiterating on his administration’s commitment to overcoming insecurity and improve the conditions of Nigeria in line with the party’s campaign promises, he emphatically said. “Our change slogan is not a campaign gimmick but a promise that must be kept. We must never again allow any group to hold the nation to ransom under whatever guise. Let us also not allow current socio-economic and security challenges to dampen our expectations for a better Nigeria.”

On the situation of the country, the President added, “In this regard, efforts will be intensified to recover stolen funds, block revenue leakages and enthrone due process, transparency and accountability. Public office is a public trust that must be held to the highest ethical standards. I wish all Nigerians a merry Christmas. Pleaser drive carefully”
Similarly, the National President of the Christian Association of Nigerian, CAN, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor also facilitated with both Christians and Muslims in the country over the two coincided celebrations from two dominant religions in the country stating that the development has afforded all Nigerians the opportunity for sober reflections at the same time. 

In his goodwill message, he stated, “On behalf of my family and the entire Christian community in Nigeria under the auspices of CAN, I wish to congratulate all Nigerians on the occasion of Christmas and Eid-el-Maulud celebrations. 
Fellow compatriots, this season offers us another unique opportunity to imbibe the lessons that come with the season. For the Christian and Muslim communities, the messages of the two celebrations are clear and key to our collective existence as a nation. The season presents us a great opportunity to reflect on the challenges confronting our nation. Let us use this occasion to strengthen our collective resolve to fight vices such as ethnicity, sectionalism and economic hardship that threatens to tear us apart. Let’s give our unalloyed support to the military as they fight to defeat insurgency in the North-East of Nigeria. ”

From the National Assembly, President of the Senate, Senator Bukola Saraki, in the same vein admonished Nigerians to eschew lifestyles that are incompatible with the virtues of the supreme leaders both religions are celebrating respectively. In a goodwill message through his Special Adviser, Media and Publicity, Yusuf Olaniyonu, the Senate President noted that these virtues are inevitable towards the drive to renaissance of the nation. He specifically asserted that love and unity irrespective of ethnic and religious differences particularly at this phase of the nation is vital to the nation adding that progress is usually achieved where such virtues are predominant.