JONATHAN, ATIKU, MARK, OTHERS REJOICE WITH NIGERIANS

By NBF News

President Goodluck Jonathan and former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, are among many other prominent Nigerians who rejoice today with Christians as they mark this year's Christmas celebration.

In his goodwill message, President Jonathan assured the nation that under his leadership, the Federal Government will continue to work diligently to give full effect to its plans to redirect national resources from wasteful and unproductive areas to identified priority sectors, including infrastructure, power supply, job creation, education, agriculture, health and social services.

He thanked the vast majority of Nigerians, who continue to keep faith with his administration, as it strives to fulfill its promise of national transformation.

He assured that as the country joins the rest of the world in celebrating Christmas, which commemorates the fulfillment of God's promise of the birth of a Messiah, significant progress would be made in the implementation of his agenda for national transformation in the coming year.

Let's pray for peace -Atiku
In his message, former Vice-President, Atiku Abubakar, urged Nigerians, particularly Christians, to pray for peace, unity and prosperity of the country as they celebrate Christmas.

Atiku in the message released by his Media Office in Abuja said that a season such as this offers opportunity for sober reflection on the part of both the leaders and the led on the situation of the country and their lives as a community of people.

He decried the hardship visited on citizens by unscrupulous people, who use the opportunity of festive periods to exploit Nigerians instead of giving back to them for their patronage as is customary in other lands.

Nigerians should love one another -Mark
President of the Senate, David Mark, and his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu, also rejoiced with Nigerians in the celebration of the yuletide season.

Mark urged Nigerians across the divide to imbibe the culture of love, peace and good neighbourliness as the cardinal principle of co-existence.

He said peace is more than ever before needed to save the country from the precipice occasioned by bombing, murder and violence in recent times.

Emulate virtues of Christ
-Ekweremadu
In his goodwill message, Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, enjoined Nigerians to emulate the virtues of Jesus Christ and work to reinforce the bonds of love and unity, which are prerequisites for meaningful national development and global peace.

We should imbibe spirit of togetherness -Ajimobi
Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State also lent his voice in the goodwill message and admonished Nigerians to imbibe the spirit of togetherness, peaceful co-existence and love towards one another so as to enhance the growth and development of the country.

The governor said it was only in an atmosphere of peace and love, which the birth of Jesus Christ symbolized, that Nigeria could achieve the desired greatness.

In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media, Dr. Festus Adedayo, Ajimobi condemned the current wanton killing and maiming in some parts of the country, saying it was an ill-wind that would not blow anybody any good.

We should renew faith in democracy -Sylva
Governor Timipre Sylva of Bayelsa State also called on people of his state and Nigerians to rededicate themselves to the moral values for which Christ came to the world.

In a message released in Yenagoa by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Doifie Ola, Sylva also urged a renewal of faith in democracy among Nigerians, saying there is no alternative to freedom.

He said, 'Jesus Christ, whom we worship and celebrate this season, is an epitome of selflessness, self-sacrifice, and humility. As we mark His birth, we should soberly reflect on the ideals He represents among us and strive to fix them firmly in our minds through practice.'

Nigerians should be humble like Christ -Ihedioha
Also, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, called on Nigerians to imbibe the virtues and qualities of Jesus Christ whose birth is being celebrated at Christmas all over the world.

Ihedioha identified humility, gentleness, peacefulness, self-denial and brotherliness as some of the attributes, which the birth, life and times of Jesus Christ symbolized, and called on all citizens to reflect on the values, especially at this time the country is going through diverse challenges of nation-building and socio-economic development.

It's time for sober reflection
-Uduaghan
Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan in his message charged Christians, Deltans and all residents in the state to reflect on the virtues and teachings of Jesus Christ in their lives and activities so that Nigeria, and indeed the world, would be a better place.

Congratulating all Christians for witnessing yet another Christmas season in a goodwill message at Christmas and New Year, he advised that the festive period should be used for sober reflections and total spiritual renewals and devotion toward living in peace and harmony with adherents of other religions.

'I wish to admonish all Christians to emulate Jesus Christ in words and deeds, imbibe the core lessons of freedom, love, tolerance, sacrifice, generosity and peaceful co-existence, which Christ stood for,' he said.