Ime Akpan
As Christians mark the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the clergy and political leaders have expressed the need for peaceful co-existence, unity and love for one another irrespective of religious, ethnic or political affiliation.
President Muhammadu Buhari, in his Easter message, said Easter is the most important feast in the Christian calendar and represents God’s redemptive mission over humanity, the triumph of light over darkness, hope over despair and good over evil.
“The Christian festival commemorating the resurrection of Jesus Christ is also a time to emulate the virtues of love, sacrifice, forgiveness, humility, courage and endurance, which Christ embodied and remarkably demonstrated during His earthly ministry.
“Let us use this auspicious season to show love to our neighbours, and cater to the needs of the less-privileged in our midst,” he said.
However, he noted that Nigeria “is currently gripped with gloom over unfortunate killings, kidnappings and violence” and assured Nigerians of his administration’s determination to address insecurity.
He condemned the outbreak of violence in parts of the country, particularly, during the festive season.
Buhari said violence and wanton destruction of life and property are offensive to the lessons of love and peace that Easter brings to humanity.
He said he was saddened by “the latest needless violent clashes between Jukuns and Tivs in Taraba State, and Fulani, Genjon and Bachama in Adamawa State resulting in arson, injuries and deaths.”
“Our nation is currently gripped with gloom over unfortunate killings, kidnappings and violence, as seen in the recent tragic incidents in some states of the federation. This should not be. We must reinforce the bond of brotherhood and good neighbourliness that citizens of a cohesive country must share. We must not allow the few bad elements in our communities to put asunder our communal tendencies and chords of unity.
“I know from my regular interactions with security chiefs, state governors, victims and members of communities caught up in the unfortunate cycle of violence, that Nigerians are united against the evil minority.
“This administration will do all it takes to adequately equip and motivate our armed forces and other law enforcement agencies to enable them successfully confront these security challenges. We will not allow merchants of evil and death to overwhelm the nation. Under my watch, the nation will triumph over them – terrorists, bandits, kidnappers and the like.
“On this holy occasion, I enjoin all Nigerians to intensify prayers for peace and security to return to all parts of the country. I also urge you not to lose hope of a brighter and greater future for the country when we do the right things in love.
“Weeping may endure for the night, but joy comes in the morning. I do not take the import of my re-election for granted, especially the expectations of majority of Nigerians towards providing adequate security, fixing the economy and fighting corruption,” said the president in a statement by his media aide, Mr. Garba Mohammed.
He added: “Violence and bloodshed for whatever reason is unacceptable and condemnable, especially when it is coming as the nation celebrates Easter with all the lessons of love and peace for humanity.
“Violence has not and cannot be the solution to the resolution of misunderstandings among the people.
“Once we abandon reason and good judgment, we are giving violence the chance to take over and make a bad situation more complicated and difficult to resolve.
“The primary initiative for ending violence once and for all must originate from the local actors involved in these clashes.”
For his part, the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Dr. Samson Ayokunle, urged Nigerians to love one another just as Christ loved His people and died for them.
He decried apparent lack of love in the country, which according to him, breeds religious intolerance, and violent extremism.
“It is in the atmosphere of peace that we would have progress as a nation,” explained that Easter is an important occasion because it reminds Christians that somebody died so that others might live.
“Easter reminds us that the way to elevation is rough and could be fatally painful. Life is all about what we can sacrifice, and not what we can benefit from it. Easter reminds us that death is not the end of all things for Christians. As He rose from death, we shall rise also at the resurrection of the just,” he said.
In his message, the general superintendent of Deeper Life Bible Church, Pastor William Kumuyi, charged Christians and Nigerians to leverage the work of redemption that Jesus Christ did, transform their lives and begin to live a life of godliness, holiness and love towards one another.
Speaking on the topic: “Working with His Resurrection Power,” during the 2019 National Deeper Life Easter Retreat at Deeperlife Camp Ground, Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Kumuyi described Easter’s blessings as wholesome as God expects every beneficiary of the work of redemption to show good works in their offices and communities.
He condemned laziness, gambling, prostitution, alcoholism, stressing that anyone who really plugs into the resurrection power would be empowered to have a good job and be able to exhibit a high level of diligence in all he/she does.
He assured all that one of the blessings synonymous with the resurrection power, for as many that are ready to tap into it, is the enablement to live above economic recession and above every power that impoverishes.
In his message, the prelate of Methodist Church Nigeria, His Eminence, Dr. Samuel Uche, enjoined Nigerians, especially Christians to mark the occasion with prayers for the country, and to keep hope alive.
“I believe that Nigeria will rise again, therefore, we should work together and avoid tarnishing the image of our country, especially those who engage in evil such as killing, destruction of property and corruption. They all should desist from it. We should all work for love, peace, unity, cohesion, integration and for harmony. We should relate with one another as one Nigeria because God has united us together as one
“If Jesus did not resurrect, there would be no Easter celebration. What makes our faith very strong and unique is the resurrection. He died and rose again from the dead and ascended into heaven. He is the only man in history that has ever done that,” he said.
The governor of Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Udom Emmanuel held out the olive branch to his political opponents and called on them to join in building the economy of the state.
“We have just concluded an election cycle where the chords of our brotherhood and amity were severely tested. Even though some of our political gladiators had likened the contest to going to war and had unfortunately invoked certain metaphors of war and violence, the battle has been fought and won to the glory of the ONLY GOD we worship and serve.
“The time, therefore, has come for us to close ranks and show love to one another. We went to the polls as sons and daughters of Akwa Abasi Ibom State joined together by shared hopes and aspirations for our state and our people.
“My opponent and I were both motivated by the need to serve our people and advance the cause of our development, but the people have spoken and made their choice. We must respect the will they expressed in my capacity to lead our people for the next four years.
“In the spirit of Easter, I am again inviting my brothers and sisters on the opposite side of the political divide to join hands with me to build a prosperous, safe and secure state where our people will continue to rise and claim the faith of their greatness,” he said.
In his goodwill message, the senate president, Dr. Bukola Saraki called on Nigerians to imbibe the value of sacrificing in the interest of the country as demonstrated by Jesus Christ.
In a statement by his media aide, Mr. Yusuph Olaniyonu, the senate president congratulated Christians in Nigeria and across the world as they celebrate Easter.
He expressed appreciation to Nigerians for their steadfastness and prayers which have had immense impact on the peace, unity and continued survival of the nation.
He noted that the successful conduct of the 2019 general elections was a direct testament to the sincere efforts and prayers of all Nigerians.
He said the Easter period is a reminder to imbibe the spirit of making sacrifices in the interest of Nigerians, as exemplified by Jesus Christ.
“I believe that our country will become better if we all commit ourselves to selfless service and making sacrifices, both at the individual and collective level.
“The prayers and fasting of Nigerians have been the bulwark against all the centrifugal and centripetal forces threatening to pull our nation down.
“We must not relent but only need to add discipline, obedience to law and more intense patriotism to our attitude,” he said.
Similarly, his deputy, Mr. Ike Ekweremadu, urged Nigerians to use the occasion of the Easter celebration to pray for the security of the nation and return to the path of reconciliation, peace and justice.
However, he added that prayers should also come with the necessary steps to rethink the nation’s security architecture, especially the policing arrangement
“I call on the Christian faithful and indeed every Nigerian to pray for divine intervention in the affairs of the nation, particularly the frightening insecurity challenges facing various parts of our country.
“However, we must also muster the political will to take on these security challenges head-on, beginning with the decentralisation of policing such that constituent parts of the nation are constitutionally empowered to take responsibility for the security of lives and property of the citizens like other federal states and as was the case in this nation before 1966.
“Importantly, we need to move away from the path of disunity, mutual suspicion, discrimination, and injustice to make any progress,” said Ekweremadu in a statement by his spokesman, Mr. Uche Anichukwu.
The People’s Democratic Party (PDP), in its goodwill message called on Nigerians to use the occasion of Easter to pray for national rebirth and fulfillment of their aspirations for a safe and prosperous nation where love, truth and justice will prevail. In a statement by its national publicity secretary, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan, the party: “The Easter festival, which marks the celebration of the resurrection of the Jesus Christ from the dead, offers great lessons on the inevitable victory of life over death; truth over falsehood; light over darkness and freedom over captivity.
“Nigerians must, therefore, use this occasion to rekindle their bonds of love, unity and oneness of purpose while standing firm against oppressive forces that are using intimidation, lies, institutional manipulations, propaganda and deprivation in their desperation to divide, subjugate and ultimately subvert our will as a people.”
The All Progressives Congress (APC) also felicitated with Christians as they commemorate the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
The party, in a statement by its national publicity secretary, Mr. Lanre Issa-Onilu, urged citizens to imbibe the selfless attributes displayed by Jesus Christ.
“As we merry with friends, family and other loved ones for the festivities, we are implored to also remember the essence of Easter which is recognition of the love, sacrifice and suffering Jesus Christ bore for humanity, said the party.
The party also preached that love and tolerance should live above violence, killings, agitations, and other divisive tendencies.
“In our collective efforts to progress as a nation, we must all rise above our perceived differences which pit brothers and sisters against themselves. Love and tolerance will take us.”
