allAfrica.com: Nigeria: Mark, Govs, Clerics Task Citizens On Sacrifice, Selfless Servce At Easter (Page 1 of 2)

Nigeria: Mark, Govs, Clerics Task Citizens On Sacrifice, Selfless Servce At Easter

The President of the Senate, Senator David Mark has called on Nigerians to emulate the life of Jesus, Christ, who he described as an example of sacrifice, purity and selfless service to humanity.

While calling on the affluent in the society to remember the poor in an Easter message to the nation, Senator Mark pledged that the National Assembly would on its part devote itself to making good laws that would meet the yearnings of Nigerians.

The Senate President was quoted in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Paul Mumeh to have called for religious tolerance among adherents of the two dominant religions; Christians and Islam, practiced in Nigeria, noting that the two religions espoused peace, unity and love for one another.

Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan in his own message called on Delta people to eschew bitterness but to collaborate with the leadership in moving the state forward.

His words: "As you are all aware, Easter is undisputably the most important landmark in the Christian faith. Let us, therefore, learn and exhibit in our actions and utterances, that we have imbibed the lessons of the crucifixion of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

In the same vein, Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State has called on people to learn to forgive their enemies and emulate the exemplary qualities of Jesus Christ, saying; as a person he had long forgiven his political foes.

He acknowledged that although Christ died to wash away the sins of mankind, his experience leading to his cruxfiction teaches us "we all have to presever, remain dedicated to our faith in God, and lead good upright lives in order to make the heavenly race.

"Accordingly, I enjoin all of you to forgive one another. Without tolerance, without a spirit-filled life and love for one another, all we do is vanity.

"It is our duty as Christians to reflect on the lessons of Easter season, as a way of increasing our self sacrifice for the good of other people, and the development of our state and nation in general", he said.

In his own message, Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola of Osun State congratulated Christians on the celebration of this year's Easter. He urged Christians to imbibe the divine lessons in the resurrection of Christ which symbolised the triumph of good over evil.

According to him, Easter should also be seen as representing God's direct intervention in salvaging man from the ravages of sin and an enthronement of peace on Earth.

"We should all use this occasion to reflect on the spirit of sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ who had to die so that we can live but who was resurrected the third day to tell the world that mankind is salvaged, he said. In another message, Abia State Governor, Chief Theodore Orji has called on Christians to use the occasion of the Easter celebration to promote love, brotherliness and unity.

Orji in his message to the people, expressed the hope that the significance of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ would offer the people of the state an opportunity to reflect on the grace and mercies of God upon the state and its people.

Governor Orji also charged the people to make out time in the midst of their celebrations to pray for the continuous peace and unity of Abia State and Nigeria in general.

And in an Easter sermon, the Primate of Anglican Communion, Church of Nigeria, His Grace, Peter Jasper Akinola yesterday at the Cathedral Church of the Advent, Gwarimpa, Abuja, said "if Christians can appropriate God's victory over death, over sin, over selfishness, over greed, if they can bring these to bear over governance, that will make all the difference.

"In Nigeria where things don't work, where there is no electricity, where there is no good road, where there is corruption, yes, those things are there, but the fact remains that by the grace of God, if those of us who know the victory of God in Christ Jesus, can appropriate and bring this victory to bear in our daily life, that will make the difference", he assured.

Bishop Akinola who is the immediate past President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) enjoined Christians the world over to focus on the passion for the love of Jesus Christ who gave his life for the sins of humanity.

For the current, President of CAN, Archbishop John Onaiyekan, Easter celebration calls for the promotion of justice and victory which the resurrection of Jesus Christ symbolises.

Onaiyekan who spoke yesterday in Abuja said 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.

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