By Ayo Kehinde
L-R:President Buhari, ex-VP and PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar
On the eve of Christmas celebration, Nigerians have been urged to show love, humility and goodwill to one another in the spirit of Christmas as exemplified by the life of Jesus Christ.
In separate statements to celebrate Christmas on Tuesday, President Muhammadu Buhari, former Vice-President and Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the 2019 polls, Atiku Abubakar, Deputy Senate president, Ike Ekweremadu and the Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF, called on Nigerians to commit to peace and love, especially ahead of the 2019 polls so as to deepen democracy through the shunning of violence, vote buying and hate speech, all capable of making of marring the outcome of the election.
According to Buhari, Nigerians should use the occasion of the Yuletide to reflect on humility, hope and love identified with Christ. He said that though the past years were years of mixed blessing for the country in terms of insecurity, his administration had been able to forge ahead with agricultural and social development. As political activity heightened in the country as the 2019 poll approaches, he called on the politicians, the security and stakeholders to redouble efforts towards making the poll fair and free.
For Atiku Abubakar, Nigerians should spare a thought for the military and security forces on the frontlines on the war on terror, this Christmas.
“ I urge all Nigerians to think about these heroes who make the relative peace we in possible. They endure so that we all can enjoy. Because they gave their all we all have some peace. So when nest you see a soldier boost his or her morale by acknowledging their sacrifices and thanking them.
“They epitomize the spirit of Christmas, which is sacrificial giving. We may be Muslim, Christian or traditional religion adherent. But we are all creatures of God deserving of the love of God and of our neighbours. Let that be the attitude we embrace this Christmas and beyond”, he concluded.
While wishing Nigerians a peaceful, joyful Christmas, Ekweremadu said the National Assembly has amended the Constitution to deepen democracy and urged the electorate to uphold peace in their conduct before, during and after the 2019 poll.
The ACF urged Nigerians to use the occasion of Christmas to imbibe the spirit of love and avoid hate speech and vote buying while calling on the politicians to abide by the tenets of the Abuja Peace Accord they signed ahead of the 2019 general elections.
The All Progressives Congress, APC in its message, said: “As we gather with family and friends for the Christmas festivities which is characterised by gift-giving, social gatherings and feasting, we should remember and extend love and generosity to the less-privileged around us.
We should also emulate the virtues of Jesus Christ exemplified by self-sacrifice.
The Party calls on Nigerians to use the joyous occasion to pray for our leaders and the peace, progress and socio-economic development of our dear country,” said Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, National Publicity Secretary in a statement.
