President Muhammadu Buhari.
Photo credit:Aljazeera.
By Dada Ahmed in Lokoja.
President Muhammadu Buhari has urged Nigerians to use the opportunity provided by Christmas celebration “to show the rest of the world that ” Nigeria is indeed ready to consolidate its democratic credentials as has been noted in international circles.”
Buhari, who gave the advice on Saturday in Abuja, in his 2022 Christmas message to the nation, remindef the people that “this joyous season has coincided with the period of campaigns to usher in a new administration.”
In the same vein, he urged Nigerians to be circumspect and vote for those that would maintain the momentum “we have created for the greater good of the country”.
” Let the peace and joy that pervade this period continue well into the new year up to the elections in February and beyond.
Buhari added,”I want to assure Nigerians that those who violently seek to disrupt the peace of our nation have lost the battle.
“The advances we have made so far on the economic front, especially in infrastructure; food security, anti-corruption, security, energy sufficiency, among others, will need to be built on.
“Our country is blessed with a wealth of human and material resources.
“Let’s celebrate our blessings this season with the trust that a better dawn awaits Nigeria.”
The President, who described Christmas as a season of love, joy and peace,added,”urged them to remember those who really wished to celebrate but were constrained in one way or the other by reaching out to them.”
He noted that many looked forward to the festive season as a time to travel, share gifts, spend quality time with family and friends, attend special carols and events, and generally relive the good moments of the year.
“In whatever circumstances we find ourselves, Christmas is a period when we come together to rejoice and set aside our differences.
“We must never lose sight of the symbiotic relationship between Christmas and hope; Jesus Christ and humility, Christianity and grace”, according to Buhari.
Buhari,who described 2022 Christmas celebration as unique for him as elected president and his family, noted that 22 weeks from now,his administration would hand over to government.
On FCT as a community,he recalled that in last seven years, he had had the privilege of receiving members of Federal Capital Territory (FCT) community on Christmas homage,” except the year the COVID-19 pandemic denied us that opportunity.”
Buhari said that, never the less,he would fondly remember FCT community as his “benevolent landlords and friendly neighbours”.
According to him,it is crucial that he remembers his closest neighbours, “because there is no better way for us to celebrate Christmas as a people than showing genuine love, care, compassion and empathy for one another.”
“Together we can make this celebration a spectacular one by renewing our pledge and common resolve to work for the unity and prosperity of our dear country,” he stressed.
President Buhari promised that
until his last day in office, he would continue to provide political and material support to sub-national governments, the Armed Forces, institutions and individuals working wholeheartedly for the peace, unity, stability and progress of Nigeria.
