The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, has urged Nigerians, especially Christian faithful, to offer special prayers for the continuous unity and peaceful co-existence among the citizens.
In the same vein, the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Idris Wase and Minority Leader, Hon. Ndudi Elumelu also urged Nigerians to emulate the lifestyle of Jesus Christ on the occasion of the Christmas celebration.
Gbajabiamila urged Christians to use the occasion for the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ to pray for the country to overcome her challenges, including insecurity in some parts of the country.
They gave the charge via separate statements issued to commemorate the 2019 Christmas celebration and made available to Tribune Online.
Hon. Gbajabiamila who described Christmas as a time for sober reflections tasked all the Christian faithful to imbibe the virtues of Jesus Christ.
He said at a time like this, Nigerians should come together and celebrate with one another as well as pray for their leaders to lead them well for the good of the country.
“I wish to join millions of citizens to congratulate my Christian brothers and sisters for witnessing and marking this year’s Christmas peacefully.
“Christmas is a period of merrymaking, but beyond that, it is also a period for us all as a people to take time and pray for our country. I admonish my Christian brothers and sisters to pray for our continuous survival in peace and unity as a country.
“I also urge them to emulate all that Jesus Christ stood for: his love for humanity, his peace-making nature, his magnanimity, his accommodating mind and everything the Christ was known for,” the Speaker said.
On his part, the Deputy Speaker enjoined Christians across the country to emulate the lifestyle of Jesus Christ who lived and preached love, peace and harmony among human beings.
Hon. Wase while congratulating all Christians in Nigeria on the occasion of Christmas, noted that the Christmas provides another opportunity for adherents of the Christian faith to exude love and peace in all their endeavours.
He also enjoined Christians not to be tired of praying for the nation, but to remain steadfast and keep trusting in God, who is the creator of the universe.
“As you celebrate the birthday of Jesus Christ, who preached love, peace and tolerance amongst men, I also felicitate you and urge you to emulate the love and humility he exhibited in his days on earth.
“I, therefore, encourage you to extend that love beyond religious, ethnic, social and sectional boundaries. Let the love with which he lived radiate in all aspects of your life and strive to use this auspicious occasion to rekindle love and respect for all.”
According to Hon. Wase, “no nation can thrive or prosper in a state of rancour and hatred. Therefore, as followers of Christ, who is an advocate of peaceful coexistence, it behoves on you to emulate him and lead in the quest to enthrone enduring peace and unity in our nation.”
The Deputy Speaker also admonished Nigerians to imbibe the spirit of sharing, tolerance and forgiveness, adding that, “when we share with one another, we acknowledge the likeness of God in each and every one of us; we must never be tired of doing good and forgiving those who offend us.
“I call on all Nigerians to resist the temptation of violence, hate speech and other divisive acts capable of incitement against one another and embrace only those things that can unite us as a people and a nation.”
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The Deputy Speaker also urged Christians to be ready to make the necessary sacrifices to advance the cause of humankind and the nation.
In a related development, the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Hon. Ndudi Elumelu urged Nigerians to use the occasion of Christmas to rekindle their love and respect for one another which he said are necessary to promote coexistence in the country.
The Minority Leader in his Christmas message also admonished Nigerians to use the yuletide season to forgive one another, eschew all divisive tendencies and rededicate themselves to acts that bring peace, unite and bind us together as a nation.
Hon. Elumelu noted that Christmas underlines the infinite love and generosity of the Almighty God, which he demonstrated in the gift of his precious son, Jesus Christ, as a sacrifice to bring salvation to humanity.
“Indeed, our unity and advancement as a nation are strengthened when we appreciate God’s love, forgiveness and kindness, which he demonstrated to us through the birth of Jesus Christ into the world.
“In descending from his heavenly glory to this earthly realm, Christ demonstrated humility, love and selflessness. Christmas offers us a strong message to imbibe these virtues in our individual and collective endeavours.”
Hon. Elumelu, therefore, urged Nigerians to share with one another and reach out to those who are hurting so that the joy of the season is spread across the board.
He also entreated those behind the mindless violence, killings and kidnapping in the land to have a rethink, as their actions cannot be justified under any guise.
Hon. Elumelu, however, assured Nigerians of the commitment of the Minority Caucus of House of Representatives in protecting their interest at all times.
He prayed for the safety of all and wished Nigerians joyful Christmas and yuletide celebrations.
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