Umeh, Obi task president-elect Buhari on national unity as thousands of Priests in Awka diocese retake vows

The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) has called on the president-elect, Gen. Mohammadu Buhari to use his new office to work towards greater unity of Nigeria.
Chief Victor Umeh national chairman of the party, made the call at St. Patricks Catholic Cathedral, Awka on Thursday after the celebration of this year’s Chrism mass.
Umeh who congratulated Buhari for his victory said it was a turning point in the history of Nigeria, adding that all that was set was the task of making every part of the country feel the sense of belonging.
He described the Holy Thursday observation as a spiritually reawakening moment, urging Nigerians to imbibe the spirit of nationalism and love just as President Goodluck Jonathan was gallant and statesmanly in defeat.
“We congratulate the new president, he won the election and we also commend Jonathan for ignoring those hawks around him to concede victory to Buhari, God is already acting; Buharis coming will restore liberty to the people of the south east just as the coming of Christ restored liberty to the humanity.
“The new president should not see the Igbos as his enemies, the Igbos have been looking for opportunity to address their problems, we do not hate him, we were considering the CONFAB resolutions which Jonathan was promising to implement.
“Now that he did not make it we asking Buhari to adopt the resolution, it is for the good of the country, he has the responsibility to bring every part of this country back to the centre using his presidential powers.
“I am sure that from now onwards there will be new hope  for our elections, the imperialist agents of the PDP who have refused election to be held in the south east can now go and rest,” he said.
In his reaction Chief Peter Obi, former governor of Anambra said both Jonathan and Buhari were exemplary in their conducts and congratulated the country for the peaceful polls.
Obi said the Chrism mass is a day that means a lot to the Christian world, calling on all Nigerians to embrace each other in unity.
“I say a very big congratulation to Jonathan for his uncommon and exemplary sportsmanship, he loves this country and he said he would ensure that there is enduring democracy  in Nigeria ,that is why he did what he did.
I also congratulate Buhari, he is a statesman that I know and his statement that he will work for all Nigeria is a great hope, I envisage a new Nigeria, a peaceful Nigeria, a Nigeria where everyone is somebody,” he said.
Prof. Joe Ahanekwu, Vice Chancellor of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, called on Nigeria be mindful the spiritual aspect of human existence as they go about their daily activities.
According to Ahaneku, “it is compulsory that people should consider eternity and after lives here we are going to meet our creator, thank God that generation has changed, it is an IT driven age but more importantly, our youths must embrace god and face their studies, and they must work hard as to be fulfilled both physically and spiritually”.
In his sermon, Bishop Paulinus Ezeokafor of Awka Diocese said Nigerians should give attention to the family as peace at that level was the bedrock of national unity the country sought.
Ezeokafor who supervised the renewal of ordination vow by priests in the diocese said Nigerians should remain resolute in their faith in God.
He congratulated politicians for their peaceful conducts during and after the national election, urging them to maintain the tempo in the state elections due for April 11.