Christmas: Jonathan, Mark, Tambuwal preach peace

President Goodluck Jonathan; Senate President, Mr David Mark and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal, have enjoined Nigerians to give peace a chance and pray for an end to the current security challenges confronting the nation.

In their separate messages to mark this year’s Christmas celebration, they also urged Christians to pray for a successful general election next year.

Former Head of State and Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in his message urged Nigerians to eschew hatred and make our nation the land of justice, peace and progress.

President Jonathan, in his message, enjoined Nigerians  to offer special prayers for a greater manifestation of divine peace in the country and “the vanquishing of all demons of hatred, divisiveness and disunity in our midst.”

Jonathan also called on Nigerians to pray for the nation’s armed forces as they confront Boko Haram terrorists in the north eastern part of the country.

According to the President, the Christmas celebration calls for a deep reflection on the “virtues and ideals which the Messiah espoused during his earthly mission.”

On the forth coming polls

On the forth coming elections, Jonathan called on politicians to eschew divisive politics as well as violent tendencies, adding that his administration will support the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to conduct free and fair elections.

The President added that the national security agencies would be supported to ensure that there is no violence during the forth coming elections.

Part of the statement reads:
“I join all of our Christian compatriots in giving thanks to God Almighty for the divine gift of Jesus Christ, the Messiah whose earthly incarnation we commemorate today.

“As we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ who the Prophet Isaiah heralded as the Prince of Peace and Wonderful Counsellor, I believe it is very appropriate that we all, Christians and non-Christians alike, reflect more deeply on the virtues and ideals which the Messiah espoused during his earthly mission.

“To my mind, there can be no doubt that the greater internalisation of the virtues of love for our fellowmen, tolerance, godliness, honesty, fairness to others, selflessness, and peaceful co-existence with others, by all adult Nigerians, and the inculcation of the same in our youths,  will definitely help our dear nation to overcome most of its present challenges.

“Peace and love for others, especially, were a constant refrain in the Messiah’s teachings and admonitions to mankind.

“Therefore, as we celebrate his birth, I urge all Nigerians to offer special prayers for a greater manifestation of divine peace in our country and the vanquishing of all demons of hatred, divisiveness and disunity in our midst.

“As we celebrate Christmas, let us also remember and offer special prayers for all of our countrymen, women and children who have suffered and continue to suffer untold hardship, deprivation and death at the hands of terrorists and insurgents.

“Let us also continue to pray for our gallant soldiers and security agents who remain at the forefront of the national effort to overcome terrorism and violent extremism, even as the rest of the nation celebrates Christmas and the coming New Year.

On 2015 polls
“I seize this opportunity to reassure the nation that my administration will give the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, all necessary support to ensure that it delivers very free, fair, credible and acceptable elections in 2015.

“National security agencies will also be given all necessary support to enhance their ability to ensure that the elections which should strengthen democracy in our country are peaceful and violence free.

Mark, Ekweremadu too
Senate President, David Mark, in his message called for peace and religious tolerance between and among different faiths in the country.

Also, in his Christmas goodwill message, the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, called for peace, love, and an immediate end to insurgency and bloodshed in the country.

Mark tasked Nigerians to act like one people under one God where peace and love for one another reigns.
He noted that only peace, respect for one another and harmonious co-existence would guarantee the needed development.

The Senate President bemoaned the unabated insecurity, terrorism and insurgency ravaging Nigeria and pleaded with religious leaders and traditional rulers to collaborate with government at all levels in order to end the menace.

He said: “We have come to an inescapable conclusion that only Nigerians and Nigerians alone can collectively address our problems. We should be able to restore the time tested believe in African brotherhood of being our brothers’ keeper.

Pray for successful 2015 polls —Tambuwal
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Tambuwal, in his message urged Nigerians to use the occasion of this year’s Christmas to pray for the successful conduct of the 2015 general election.

In his message  issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs, Malam Imam Imam, Tambuwal equally enjoined Nigerians to seek God’s intervention for the end of the current security challenges confronting the nation.

He said: “We should all pray for the successful conduct of the 2015 general election because candidates who emerged through free, fair and credible exercise are more likely to serve the interest of the nation. The coming elections provide an opportunity for our country to start afresh. I am confident we will get it right”.

Eschew hatred this season —Buhari
Former Head of State, General Muhammadu Buhari, in his message issued by the Director, Communications, Buhari Campaign Organisation, Mr Dele Alake, said: “The right to life, guaranteed by our constitution, is under savage assault.

“I pledge that the Christmas of year 2015 will meet us all in greater joy and happiness. It is indeed significant, the February 14, 2015, the date of the presidential election, falls on the Valentine’s Day, a day to celebrate love among mankind. I urge you all to keep sharing the love that binds us together. Let us eschew hatred and make our nation the land of justice, peace and progress.”