Senate President Ahmad Lawan on Saturday wished Christians in Nigeria well as they join their counterparts across the world to celebrate Christmas.
A former Senate President David Mark; Chairman Senate Committee on Finance, Senator Solomon Adeola, and House of Representatives Deputy Speaker Idris Wase also wished Nigerians a happy celebration.
Lawan in a statement by his Special Adviser (Media), Ola Awoniyi, in Abuja, enjoined Christian faithful to spread the message of love, peace, hope and tolerance which Jesus Christ preached by personal example.
“I heartily rejoice with Christians in Nigeria as they celebrate this annual festival of the birth of Jesus Christ.
“The life and teachings of Jesus Christ enjoins his followers through holy living to be the light and salt that make the world brighter and better for mankind.
“Jesus Christ also commanded his followers to love their neighbours just as they love themselves and to seek peace in the society.
“Abiding by those great instructions is important for Christians everywhere and for all of us in Nigeria as we seek to build a virile and happy nation.
“The National Assembly will continue to promote good governance so that we can overcome our development challenges and set our country firmly on the path of progress, peace and unity.
“The ninth National Assembly has been working with the Executive Arm in the last three and a half years to improve service delivery by government and all its institutions, to raise the standard of living of Nigerians.
“In true spirit of this August occasion, let us also remember to pray for divine guidance for those piloting the affairs of our country, Nigeria,” Lawan said.
The Senate President wished all Nigerians especially the Christian faithful a happy celebration.
Also, a former President of the Senate, Senator David Mark, urged Nigerians to renew hope and faith in God in the quest to find lasting solutions to the socio-economic and political challenges facing the nation.
Senator Mark in a goodwill message to Nigerians to mark this year’s Christmas celebration, said there is need to seek refuge in God, saying: “if all things fail, God never fails”.
He canvassed for religious harmony between and among various groups saying that peaceful coexistence is needed for development to take place.
The former Senate helmsman bemoaned occasional religious conflicts in the land and called on religious leaders to do more in preaching the good news of peace, love and good neighbourliness.
Mark urged Christian faithful not to forget the essence of Christmas on the alter of merriment saying: “Jesus Christ came to redeem mankind, preached the message of peace, love , forgiveness and help for the needy”.
He urged religious leaders to educate their followers on the need to be their brothers’ keeper at all times, pointing out that “nobody can live a life of loneliness or isolation. We need each other to make the world a better place”.
He wished Nigerians a merry Christmas and a prosperous new year.
Senator Adeola called on all Christians in particular, and Nigerians in general, to use the occasion of the Christmas celebration to renew their faith in Jesus Christ of Nazareth and pray for a peaceful and rancour free 2023 general elections in a few weeks time.
In a Christmas message to felicitate with his constituents and Nigerian Christendom, Adeola said Christmas symbolised the celebration of the birth of a new dawn for the salvation of souls for all humanity especially for Christians, stressing that “with the birth of Jesus Christ that we are celebrating, mankind has a hope for a better future and salvation of souls for eternity.
“I want to urge all Christian faithful not to use the occasion of 2022 Christmas celebration for merry-making only but use it as a period of reflection and supplication to God Almighty for a better, peaceful and prosperous future.
“With this year’s celebration coming weeks to a crucial national and state elections, I urge all Nigerians to see the season as another opportunity for fervent prayers for a new dawn and prosperous future for individuals and the Nigerian nation,” Adeola said.
While acknowledging that Nigerians are going through a difficult period of socio-economic downturn occasioned by many historical, local and global factors, he urged all Nigerians to be patient and look forward to a better future.
He added that with abiding faith in Jesus Christ all our challenges will be a thing of the past with a renewed hope for uplifting national development.
Former governor and Enugu East Senator Chimaroke Nnamani called for religious tolerance and mutual respect between and among different adherents as a road map for harmonious coexistence in the country.
Nnamani stated that respect for each other’s religion and observing the rights of others is a sure way to guaranteeing harmonious coexistence without stepping on toes.
In his goodwill message to mark this year’s Christmas season, Senator Nnamani who is the Chairman, Senate Committee on Cooperation and Integration in Africa/NEPAD,
stressed that deliberate efforts must be made by all and sundry to engender peace and security in the land.
He specifically urged Christian faithful to be guided by the spirit of the season as exemplified by Jesus Christ advocacy for peace, love, tolerance and forgiveness.
The former Governor added that only a peaceful atmosphere can guarantee socio-economic and political development.
He urged the clergy to persistently preach the message of love and peace pointing out that this has become imperative as the 2023 general elections draws near.
He however tasked the political class to take up the gauntlet ahead of the elections to ensure that the elections are conducted in a congenial atmosphere in “order to produce the best amongst us.”
Senator Nnamani was optimistic that the forthcoming elections would be hitch-free but reminded all the political actors to the game according to the rules.
He stressed the need to allow the wishes of the people prevail in 2023 , let the people decide.
Also on Saturday, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Ahmed Idris Wase, called on the Christian faithful to uphold the tenets of love, sacrifice and tolerance as symbolised by Jesus Christ.
Wase in his Christmas message issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Umar Muhammed Puma, urged Christians to use this special occasion to show love and kindness to one another.
He urged the Christians to use the occasion of this year’s Christmas celebration to pray to God to put an end to all the security and economic challenges bedeviling the country.
The Deputy Speaker further urged religious leaders to pray for the nation and its leaders , as we prepared for the 2023 general elections.
