President Muhammadu Buhari says his administration remains resolute at improving the standard of living of the Nigerians.
Felicitating Christians on Christmas, the President observes that it is a special period that brings peoples of the world together with the singular purpose of celebrating togetherness, joy, peace, and love with through exchange of goodwill and gifts.
He notes however that Covid-19 pandemic, with its attendant debilitating impact, has remained with mankind, mutating, and leaving in its wake devastating consequences on the economy, social interaction, curtailing certain freedoms, and limiting the bounds of such celebrations for 2 years.
In the felicitation, signed by himself, the President says the silver lining, however, is that humanity has been able to rise up with one voice and purpose, to confront the foisted conditions.
President Buhari uses the opportunity provided this communication to appeal to the citizenry to get vaccinated, being the popular scientifically known bulwark against the pandemic.
He urges those that have taken the two doses to go ahead and take the booster, as advised by the Presidential Steering Committee.
On security, he says despite the remarkable successes generally recorded, the country still has some challenges.
The President says he is confident that with the renewed commitment and empowerment of committed security personnel, issues inflicting pain and trauma in the country, will soon be history, saying that it is in the midst of hardship that the true test of a nation emerges.
President Buhari urges Nigerians to utilise the opportunity the festive period brings to encourage fellow citizens against the machinations of the wicked ones in their midst to allow peace to thrive.
He observes that Christmas is a season when hope is rekindled. Hope, Peace, Joy, Love are the recurring themes of the time.
President Buhari calls on Nigerians to invoke the indomitable spirit in them and see the present order of things as a phase that will also pass, just like the other unsavory situations in the nation’s history.
He says the diversification of the economy embarked upon is yielding fruits, and that government would create opportunities for the youth to ventilate their tremendous energy.
President Buhari appeals to the haves to reach out to the less privileged and give them a sense of belonging.
The President stresses the need for prayer and words of encouragement to security personnel to enable them fulfil their oaths to keep the citizenry safe.
Christmas: Gbajabiamila calls for unity, prayers for Nigeria
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, has rejoiced with Nigerians, especially Christians, on the occasion of this year’s Christmas.
In a statement, the Speaker said the Christmas period calls for sober reflection even as he enjoined Christians to pray for the country amidst challenges.
Speaker Gbajabiamila said the character of Jesus Christ, who is the main reason for the celebrations, should reflect in the life of every Christian.
Similarly, the Deputy Speaker House of Representatives, Ahmed Wase, has urged Christians to reflect on the teachings of Juses Christ, which entails love for neighbour, peaceful coexistence and loyalty to constituted authority.
In a statement, the deputy speaker, advised all Christians to continue to pray for the growth and development of the nation inspite of the current security and economic challenges.
He enjoined Nigerians particularly Christians to use the opportunity offered by Christmas to pray for the end of COVID-19 global pandemic.