23 March 2008
Lagos — President Umaru Musa YaríAdua, yesterday in the spirit of the Eid-el-Maulud and Easter festivities appealed to Nigerians to continue to bear with his administration's gradual approach in tackling the problems confronting the various aspects of the nation's socio-political economy.
The president in his Eid Maulud and Easter message to the people stated: "I urge you all to remain patient in the firm belief that with your continued support, understanding and cooperation, our administration shall by the grace of God Almighty deliver on its promise of a better life for all Nigerians".
While asking for more time from Nigerians to enable him fully implement his government's programmes, he said, "achieving significant improvements in the living conditions of the vast majority of our people in the shortest possible time remains our goal and we are working assiduously to fulfill our promises to the people of this great country."
"There is a lot of work to be done to solve our current problems with public infrastructure, power and energy supplies, education and health care amongst others. But we are applying ourselves diligently to the task with transparency, honesty, sincerity, dedication and the good of all as our guiding principles.
"I wish to reassure all Nigerians of my administration's continued commitment to reforming all aspects of our national life for the good of all our countrymen, women and children", he stated.
The President said the "fortuitous closeness this year of Eid-El-Maulud, which commemorates the birth of Prophet Mohammed and the Good Friday and Easter celebrations which commemorate the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ, gives the entire nation an apt opportunity to reflect deeply on the shared teachings and principles of Islam and Christianity.
"The vast majority of our people profess one of these two major religions and there can be no doubt that our country would be a much better place for us to live in if we all make a greater effort to live according to the virtues and ideals of self sacrifice, selfless service, humility, honesty, fairness, tolerance, brotherly love and godliness as exemplified and taught by Prophet Mohammed and Jesus Christ", he stated.
Also, Vice President Goodluck Jonathan, governors and clerics across the country yesterday sent goodwill messages to muslims and christians on the occasion of the religious festivities. They urged Nigerians to take advantage of the season in the interest of the country.
Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN) of Lagos State called on all political leaders to emulate the virtue of selflessness which Jesus Christ displayed throughout his time on earth.
"We can be selfless by ensuring that we eschew all forms of bitterness in politics especially after the completion of elections. The tendency to criticise all government policies for criticism sake without offering better alternatives should be done with," he stated.
Ebonyi State Governor, Chief Martin Elechi, on his part, wants Nigerians to use the Easter Celebration as an opportunity for spiritual renewal and personal reflection to strengthen the cause of nation-building and peaceful co-existence.
A statement from the governor's Chief Press secretary, Dr. Onyekachi Eni, said the governor advised Christians to look beyond the merry making usually associated with Easter by imbibing and propagating the lessons of sacrificial love and good neighbourliness which made Jesus Christ a universal symbol.
In his own Easter message, the Enugu State Governor, Sullivan Chime enjoined Nigerians to imbibe the humility and teachings of Jesus Christ in their collective drive to restore the hope and faith of our people in governance and move the nation forward.
"Easter, as we all know, is that period when Christians around the world join together with families, friends and neighbours to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ, and the triumph of love and faith over death. The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the most important event in the Christian faith. For Christians, the life and death of Jesus Christ are the ultimate expressions of love, mercy, faith and renewal. Through His sacrifice and victory over death, our Lord renewed humanity forever," he stated.
Also, the governorship candidate of the Action Congress (AC) in Edo State during the April 2007 election, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole who was last week declared the winner by the election tribunal appealed to Nigerians especially Edo people to utilise the opportunity of the Easter period to rededicate themselves to the service of mankind.
Oshiomhole also prayed against forces of darkness that could impede the progress and development of the country. He said with collective effort and prayers, the Nigerian project could work again.
In his message, President of Christian Association of Nigeria, (CAN) Archbishop John Onaiyekan, said Easter celebration calls for the promotion of justice and victory which the resurrection of Jesus Christ symbolises.
Onaiyekan told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday in Abuja that Christ, in the form of a human being, defeated all tribulations by accepting death for humanity.
"Death on the cross means that in the life and death of Jesus, there is nothing in human nature that God does not understand because Jesus has passed through all.
"It is a common thing in our society for innocent people to be wrongly accused, while some even get killed. The resurrection of Christ is a mark of victory for any one who believes and stands by the truth," he said.
Pentecostal cleric, Reverend Williams Ukaonu, in his message, described the resurrection of Christ as the real essence of Christianity, adding therefore that the only way to reciprocate that gesture was for Christians to commit themselves to the service of God and also use the period to reach out to the needy.
In the same vein, Reverend Sister Lucy Gidado advised married couples to speak various the "languages of love"to sustain their matrimonial vows and ensure enduring relationship. She admonished couples to always uphold the virtue of love because it strengthens the bond between a husband and wife.
From Francis Ugwoke in Enugu, Christopher Isiguzo in Abakaliki , Olawale Olaleye in Lagos and Juliana Taiwo in Abuja with agency report
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