President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday joined Christians in Nigeria and around the world to celebrate Easter, urging Nigerians to continue to be confident and believe strongly in the country for better seasons ahead.
The president who conveyed this in an Easter message to Nigerians which he personally signed also preached love, compassion, kindness, resilience and forgiveness during and after the Easter celebrations.
Recognising that Easter is about renewed hope and a glorious future, Buhari urged all Nigerians to continue to be confident and believe strongly in the country for better seasons ahead, stressing that at the heart of Easter is the triumph of light over darkness.
“I join Christians in Nigeria and around the world to celebrate Easter, which commemorates the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, signposting his victory over death.
“At the heart of Easter, is the triumph of light over darkness.
“It is a season that reminds us that the Almighty can turn an unpleasant situation round for good.
“Recognising that Easter is about renewed hope and a glorious future, I urge all Nigerians to continue to be confident and believe strongly in our country for better seasons ahead.
“As a nation, we have gone through an election that has produced the next set of leaders at the federal and State levels.
“I commend Nigerians for believing in the process. While I congratulate those that have been elected, I acknowledge that it is the right of those who feel dissatisfied with the outcome to seek redress. I expect them to wait patiently and allow our legal system run its course.
“It has been a rare privilege for me to serve as your President since you gave me the first mandate in 2015 and renewed it in 2019.
“Day after day, I have been guided by the vows I took to keep Nigeria united, prosperous and secure.
“Our successes on security, economy, infrastructure, new oil frontier basins, landmark legal reforms as well as food sufficiency, among others, were possible because of the support of Nigerians.
“As we celebrate this season with our families, neighbours and communities, let us do so in love, compassion, kindness, resilience and forgiveness,” Buhari wrote.
In his goodwill message, the governor of Lagos State, Mr. Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, enjoined residents, particularly the Christians, to emulate Jesus Christ’s virtues of humility, perseverance and compassion, which made him die on the Cross for the atonement of sins and reconciliation of man with God.
The governor stated this in a statement issued by his media aide, Mr. Gboyega Akosile.
He urged Christians to continue to live in peace, love and harmony with believers in other faiths, noting that good neighbourliness, selflessness, patience, and love are among the many lessons taught and exemplified by Jesus Christ.
“I wish all Lagosians and Christians across the country and other parts of the world a Happy Easter as we remember the sacrifice and love of Jesus towards mankind. The message of Easter is that of sacrifice, tolerance, harmony, perseverance, and undying love.
“As we commemorate the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, I want Lagosians and Nigerians in general to make togetherness and unity of the country the central goal of our nationalities.
“Let us remember to be Christ-like in our love for fellow citizens and our country. As Christians, this period offers us an opportunity to rethink our relationships as individuals, as communities, and as a nation.
“We should also use the period to pray for peace in Lagos State and Nigeria as the country prepares for the May 29 hanging-over ceremony.
“Let us all emulate the virtues of Jesus Christ by simply impacting the lives of friends, colleagues, associates, neighbours, and family members, as well as contributing to the growth and development of our dear Lagos State and Nigeria.
“We should mirror the virtues of humility, compassion, and undying love as demonstrated by Jesus Christ. May the blessing of Easter and the power of the resurrection rekindle our faith in God and humanity. I wish you all a happy celebration,” he said.
In his goodwill message, the secretary to the government of the federation (SGF) Mr. Boss Mustapha called on the Christian faithful to imitate Jesus Christ.
He said two great events in the Christian calendar, Good Friday and Easter, symbolise the triumph of good over evil, and prayed that the season awaken in Christians the spirit of dedication to public good and selfless service to the nation.
“The period should herald a rebirth and healing of the country, emphasising the need to use the period to pray for the success of the incoming administration,” he added.
Similarly, the governor of Rivers State, Mr. Nyesom Wike, rejoiced with Christians on Easter and urged them to emulate Jesus Christ by making sacrifices that would advance the course of development.
In a statement by his spokesman, Mr. Kelvin Ebiri, the governor said Easter exemplifies the ultimate sacrifice made by Jesus Christ to save mankind.
He said as individuals, Christians must take into consideration the welfare of others.
He called on the people of Rivers State to re-dedicate themselves to the service of the state as they reflect on the ideals of Good Friday and Easter celebration.
For his part, the minister of state for budget and national planning, Mr. Clem Agba, called on Christian faithful and Nigerians to take the opportunity of the Easter celebrations to embrace peace.
He pointed out that Christ’s love, which made Him surrender His life on the cross at Calvary for the remission of sin of man, was the essence of the season.
He said it is only in the atmosphere of peace and love, which the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ represent that “we can unleash our creative potential for the development of our nation.”
Agba urged Nigerians to “focus more on issues that unite rather than divide us as a nation.”
According to him, there is no limit to the amount of collective good that can accrue to a united nation. I urge us to be united in focus and in purpose.
“I wish all of us a momentous Good Friday and celebratory Easter Sunday and Monday in the abundance of love, peace, and unity.
From the former senate president, Dr. Bukola Saraki, came a message calling on Nigerian Christians to pray for peace, security, sustainable development and unity in the country.
Saraki urged Christians to return to the teachings of Jesus Christ who as “the reason for the season’ represents religious tolerance, peaceful co-existence, good faith, truth, demonstration of the fear of and belief in God, empathy for the less privileged, and patriotism to one’s country.
In a statement issued by his media office in Abuja, the former senate president wrote: “It is not just a mere coincidence that while the Lent fasting was on, the Muslim Ramadan also commenced and this translates to a very substantial percentage of the national population fasting in the past two weeks. This is a design by Almighty God to teach us the lesson that no matter how we worship Him, whatever language we adopt in worshipping Him, or what name we call Him, we are all creations of one God.
“Therefore, we should all live, work and aspire together as brothers and sisters in the interest of our dear country, demonstrate the fear of God in all we do, and develop our country for the benefit of all. We should stop allowing religion, ethnicity, or difference in language to divide us. It is time we all bound together to salvage our country and restore her lost glory.
“This Easter period which also coincides with the ongoing Ramadan fasting should be used by Nigerians to pray for their country, to rededicate ourselves to the promotion of national interest above personal interest, ponder about the challenges facing the country, and for each individual to take a vow to be part of the solution to the problems.
“It is my prayer that almighty God will intervene and heal our country in all areas while also giving us victory over those misguided elements that are waging wars against the country.
“May the protection of God be on all members of the security agencies who are on the frontlines fighting to defend our country. I wish all our Christian brothers and sisters a happy celebration of Good Friday and Easter.”
