The Nigerian President in a Christmas message asked all Nigerians to pray for a greater manifestation of divine peace and the vanquishing of all demons of hatred, divisiveness and disunity in our midst.
President Jonathan in the Christmas message on Wednesday said that the Christmas season had remained a time that all Christians and non-Christians alike should reflect more deeply on the virtues and ideals which the Messiah, Jesus Christ, 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 youth, 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,” President Jonathan said in the 19-paragraph christmas message.
He further urged all Nigerians to remember and offer special prayers for all women and children who have suffered and continue to suffer untold hardship, deprivation and death at the hands of terrorists and insurgents.
The President further called for prayers for Nigeria’s gallant soldiers and security agents who remained 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.
“In this season of goodwill, I urge all patriotic Nigerians to rededicate themselves to doing all within their powers to support the brave men and women of our armed forces in the ongoing war against terrorism, and also support the Federal Government’s efforts to provide more succour to the hapless victims of terrorist atrocities.”
Donate More Generously
He also said that the Victims’ Support Fund, which had been established to raise additional funds to assist Nigerians who have been adversely affected by continuing insecurity in some parts of Nigeria, remained active.
President Jonathan urged all individuals and corporate organisations, who have not yet done so, to donate more generously to the Fund which had been efficaciously deployed to ease the sufferings of victims of terrorist violence.
On the 2015 general elections, President Jonathan reassured the nation that his administration would give the Independent National Electoral Commission all necessary support to ensure that it delivered very free, fair, credible and acceptable elections in 2015.
He emphasised that national security agencies would be given all necessary support to enhance their ability to ensure that the elections, which should strengthen democracy, were peaceful and violence free.
“I urge our political class to be law- abiding and place the greater interests of our nation above all personal or sectional interests in the countdown to the elections.
“Let us all be more statesman-like, conduct issues-based campaigns, and eschew the promotion of falsehood, division and hatred of others as we seek the votes of our countrymen in what should be a peaceful competition among contending points of view for the progress and development of our dear nation.
“I remain convinced that God Almighty is still with us as a nation even in the midst of our current challenges which we shall surely overcome with greater unity of purpose, dedication, commitment and perseverance.
“Let this year’s celebration of the birth of Christ the Messiah rekindle, strengthen and reaffirm our faith in our national ability to overcome all challenges, with God on our side,” he said, wishing all Nigerians a very happy Christmas celebrations.