President Goodluck Jonathan has called on Nigerians to seize the opportunity of the Easter celebration to reflect deeply on what more we need to do as a people, to ensure that the political process in which we are currently engaged is successfully concluded and Nigeria continues to move towards a better future.
In his Easter message, the President said Nigerians must make sacrifices for greater unity, peace, political stability and progress of the country.
According to him, having successfully scaled the hurdle of the presidential and National Assembly elections, he was optimistic that the gubernatorial and state assembly elections will also be conducted peacefully.
“This year’s celebration of Easter is taking place at a period of very critical national choices and decisions, during which we must all be prepared and willing to make sacrifices for greater unity, peace, political stability and progress in our beloved country.
“We must therefore seize the opportunity of the Easter holiday to reflect deeply on what more we need to do as a people, to ensure that the political process in which we are currently engaged is successfully concluded and that our beloved country, Nigeria continues to move towards a better future for all of its citizens.
“Happily, we have already successfully scaled the hurdle of the presidential and National Assembly elections. I am quite hopeful that the gubernatorial and state assembly elections will also be conducted peacefully.
Senate President David Mark, in his own message said: “Which ever side of the religion or political divides we may find ourselves, what must be paramount is the interest of our country. What makes for the good of all; welfare and security of our citizens must of a necessity be our vision and purpose.”
In the message signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Paul Mumeh, Mark said that despite the socio-economic and political challenges facing the nation, “with collective will and cooperation of all we can surmount our difficulties.”
Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State advised Nigerians to imbibe the spirit of humility displayed by the Lord Jesus who offered himself a sacrifice for all by dying on the cross.
The governor, in his Easter message in Ado-Ekiti, said being humble, no matter the exalted position one occupies as shown by the Lord, must be a top virtue Nigerians should aspire to get, if our nation would move forward.
Rivers State Governor and Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, in his own message, called for peace, love and unity among Nigerians.
In a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. David Iyofor, Amaechi said Christians have a task to reflect their belief of the resurrection power of Jesus Christ through constant prayers for the nation.
“Our Christian leaders should use the Easter period to pray for peace, unity and love among Nigerians, we are one Nigeria. Christians, at this time, have a duty to always reflect their belief according to the resurrection power of Jesus Christ through prayers for our nation. This is because, Jesus Christ died and was buried, and on the third day arose that the world may be saved”.
Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State, in his message, said the peace which has prevailed in Nigeria post-election is enough reason for Nigerians to give thanks to God.
In his Easter broadcast to people of the state, the governor said: “This period of Easter offers us another opportunity to reflect on our lives and our commitment to God; a period to remind us of God’s love for us. This period, we are enjoined to show love to our neighbours, our family members and indeed to our great country”.
In Akwa Ibom State, Governor Godswill Akpabio enjoined the people to find comfort in the shared commitment to unity and find strength in a common aspiration for a greater state.
Akpabio, who gave this advice in his radio and television broadcast marking Easter, said “Let those who seek to divide us with politics be reminded that Christ said it was through loving one another that one can prove himself as being a true disciple”.
Akpabio commended Mr. President for this powerful national lesson during this season of love and sacrifice, admitting that “He lived up to his vow that no ambition was worth anybody’s blood. We should bear this in mind as we prepare to elect our next governor on April 11, 2015”.
Abia State Governor Theodore Orji called on Christians to use Easter period to pray for continued peace and unity of Nigeria.
Orji, in his Easter message, also urged Nigerians, irrespective of religion or tribe, to pray for peace and unity of the country.
Chairman PDP Governors’ Forum, Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State
In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Charles Ajunwa, he said “the lessons of love, humility, sacrifice, selflessness, forgiveness and perseverance shown by the Lord Jesus Christ through his death on the cross and resurrection should be emulated by all Nigerians at all times especially at this critical period in our nation’s history”.
Former Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, congratulated the people of the state and Nigerians in general for witnessing another Easter, urging them to emulate the sacrificial nature of Jesus Christ who laid down his life for the salvation of mankind.
Fayemi, in his Easter message, signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Olayinka Oyebode, also called on Christians to always demonstrate the virtues of love and sacrifice which the Lord Jesus Christ exhibited in ensuring the salvation of humanity.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) urged Nigerians to come together, irrespective of the fault lines separating them, for a national rebirth, in the spirit of Easter.
In its Easter message, contained in a statement issued in Lagos by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said this year’s Easter celebrations could not have come at a better time, hence the lessons must not be lost on Nigerians.
”At the core of Easter, which celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ, are the messages of renewal and rebirth, sacrifice, forgiveness and love. In the culmination of his life of selfless
sacrifice, Jesus Christ gave his life for others to live. Let us emulate him, in our private and public lives, by exhibiting those virtues for which he lived,” the party said.
”This year’s Easter celebrations have coincided with an ongoing political transition that has so far been widely adjudged a success, and one that also paves the way for us to have a national rebirth. In doing this, we must show love and eschew bitterness. We must put the
acrimony of the long drawn electioneering campaign behind us.”
The gubernatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Delta State, Senator Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa, urged Deltans to use the occasion of the Easter celebration to reflect on the noble virtues of love, sacrifice, selflessness, and commitment which Jesus Christ displayed through His death, resurrection, and ascension.
In his Easter message, he asked Deltans, and indeed all Nigerians, to emulate these qualities which, he asserted, are imperative for the service of God and humanity.
The Speaker of the Kwara State Assembly and member-elect of House of Representatives, Barr. Razak Atunwa, urged Christians to draw substance from the significant life of Jesus.
The Speaker, in his Easter message, stated that religious beliefs and practices are fundamental to nation-building.
The senator representing Kwara Central in the National Assembly,Senator Bukola Saraki, urged Nigerians to make huge sacrifice and place the country on a high priority.
The former governor, in his Easter message, said: “At this moment when Nigeria is globally celebrated on her emergence of a new democratic dispensation, I extend a hearty felicitation to our dear Christian families all across the country.
“For this to come to life, we all need to make huge sacrifice and place this nation on a high priority.” Vanguard
