PMB felicitates with Christians on Christmas
by Oru Leonard
President Muhammadu Buhari has felicitated with Nigerians, especially the Christians on the occasion of Christmas celebrations which usually comes up every December 25th.
In his goodwill message, the president urged the Christians to reflect on the symbolic birth of Jesus Christ.
“I felicitate with all Nigerians, particularly our Christian brothers and sisters, on the joyous occasion of this year’s Christmas, which commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ.
Like I have done in the last three Christmas messages to my fellow compatriots as a serving President, I believe this season is another opportunity to reflect on the imagery of the humble, symbolic and divine birth of a young child thousands of years ago in Bethlehem, Judea, and the message of hope, compassion, salvation, reconciliation, forgiveness and peace that Jesus Christ embodies and conveys” PMB said.
President Buhari noted that in 2018, Nigerians have had mixed blessings, typical of human beings.
On the pleasant side, our economy has made significant progress since coming out from recession and our faithful implementation of the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan.
He also noted that agricultural revolution has seen a vastly improved local production to the detriment of importation, while we have achieved surplus in our trade balance. Similarly, infrastructural deficit has been greatly reduced with significant improvements in roads, railways, aviation and power.
” In addition, we have not relented in the fight against corruption while the business environment has been improved through institutional reforms.
On the downside, we have seen so many unnecessary deaths caused by violent clashes between neighbours, who ordinarily should complement and support one another.
We cannot bring back the lives lost to floods, unfortunate fire disasters, road accidents, farmers/herders clashes and insurgency.
But we can put back smiles on the faces of the grieving, the displaced and the troubled, if we show a little love and recommit ourselves to building relationships with those outside our ethnic, religious and socio-political divides” he advised.
The President said that all deserve our goodwill in this season of love and sharing.
He urged Nigerians to remember our brave Armed Forces, other security men and women who make incredible sacrifices to keep us safe, the aged, the sick, physically challenged persons and many others who cannot be with their families this time as we celebrate Christmas, exchange gifts, pray and visit loved ones.
According to PMB, “Together we can show generosity to our neighbours and demonstrate the diversity that makes Nigeria unique – a land with a beautiful climate and vegetation, beaming with an energetic and creative youth population.
We must not also forget that what lies ahead of us as a nation is better than whatever we must have experienced in the past.
With general elections around the corner and heightened political activities across the country, I have charged our security and law enforcement agencies to secure the sanctity of the ballot box and ensure that the outcome of the polls reflects the will of the Nigerian people.”
He reinstated Federal Government’s commitment to free, fair, credible and violence-free polls elections in 2019, stating that it was a sworn declaration on the advancement of Nigeria, the future and safety of our young and unborn generations.
” Let us tell the world that, indeed, ‘something good can come out from Nigeria. And it will happen, as we all team up to make it happen” the President concluded.
