President Goodluck Jonathan on Thursday in Abuja ushered Nigerians into the Yuletide season with a call on them to continue to preach peace and unity of the country.
Jonathan said at a Christmas carol service held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, that the call became necessary especially now that the country’s political atmosphere is charged in the build-up to the 2015 general elections.
While noting that power belongs to God, the president urged all politicians and leaders at all levels to be guided by the fear of God in their utterances, actions and decisions.
“I’ll use this unique opportunity to plead with all Nigerians to continue to preach love and unity of our country especially in this period that we the politicians are approaching elections.
“We can see that the entire atmosphere is charged. People are angry, others are smiling, all kinds of things are happening.
“Sometimes you think that the heavens will even come down, but God will see us through.
“We pray that God should give those of us who have been privileged to be handling sensitive matters on behalf of the rest of us to do these things with the fear of God.
“And if we begin to do what is right in our little ways, we will sure overcome the challenges.’’
The president, who read the seventh lesson drawn from Luke 2:13-14, commended Nigerians across religious lines for their prayers which, he said, had kept the country together.
Jonathan noted that the daily tales of bombings, kidnappings and other acts of terrorism coming from the North Eastern part of the country were a global phenomenon.
He said the situation could have been worse but for the prayers of Christians and Muslims alike, and urged them not to relent in their prayers for the country.
Jonathan re-assured Nigerians that his administration would continue to do its best to overcome the social and economic challenges facing the nation.
In a Christmas message titled: “Praise Unto Peace’’, the Anglican Bishop of Aguata Diocese, Anambra State, the Most Rev. Christian Efobi, urged Christians to continue to preach and live in peace.
Efobi noted that no family, community or nation could move forward in the absence of peace, citing the destruction of lives and property visited on the North East by the insurgency as unnecessary.
He also commended First Lady Patience Jonathan for her relentless gospel of peace to the nation, describing it as the way to God for all Nigerians.
The cleric urged the president to remain fearless and firm in his determination to lead the country to the Promised Land even in the face of persecution.
“Stand firm because God has given you the leadership of this country. `The Egyptians’ you see today, soon you will see them no more,’’ he said. NAN
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