Today is Christmas. It is an occasion to celebrate Christ’s birth and a time for introspection – on the state of the nation.
Leaders are preaching peace in their messages.
President Goodluck Jonathan launched a sales drive for the national conference — its controversial pill for Nigeria’s numerous ailment.
Senate President David Mark and House of Representatives Speaker Aminu Tambuwal urged Nigerians to embrace peace, tolerance, love and harmony.
Mark also called for responsible leadership.
The President thanked God for the grace that helped Nigeria to overcome its challenges since the last Christmas.
According to him, the annual commemoration of the birth of Jesus Christ is a most auspicious time for the nation to rededicate itself to the virtues and ideals which the Messiah preached and exemplified during his earthly ministry.
He said: “Let us all, therefore, resolve this Christmas to make the ideals of peace, harmony, tolerance, love and goodwill to all even more manifest in our interactions with others.”
“It remains my sincere belief that no height of human accomplishment is beyond us as a nation, if we can overcome our differences, such as they are, and forge a binding national consensus to put the progress and well-being of the country above all other considerations.”
Jonathan promised that his administration would do its all to encourage delegates to the national conference next year to secure the required consensus for national peace and unity.
He said: “My administration will do all within its powers and abilities to ensure that when representatives of our people assemble for the forthcoming national conference next year, they will have every opportunity and encouragement to make very significant contributions towards forging the required consensus for sustained national peace, unity and progress.”
The President expects the national conference to contribute largely towards the urgent resolution of contentious issues which hinder Nigeria’s progress.
“With God Almighty as our Guide, Strength and Enabler, My Administration will continue to implement its Agenda for National Transformation in furtherance of its avowed commitment to improving the living conditions of all Nigerians.”
“We will continue to count on the prayers, support and cooperation of all patriotic Nigerians in the coming year as we consolidate and build on our achievements in several sectors, including national security, power supply, communications, transportation, health and education.
“As we commemorate the birth of the Prince of Peace, let us all strive to honour Him more by living our lives as He taught; by making personal sacrifices for the good of others, by showing greater love for others, by being fairer and more honest in our dealings with others, by being ever-willing to forgive those who offend us and by always extending goodwill towards others.
“On behalf of myself, my family and the Federal Government, I wish you all very joyful Christmas celebrations, and a peaceful and prosperous 2014.”
Mark, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary Paul Mumeh in Abuja, urged Nigerians to sink their differences, irrespective of ethnic, religious or political leanings and put the peace and unity of the nation above other considerations.
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