President Muhammadu Buhari has called on
Nigerians to keep faith in the determination and ability of his
administration to change the Nigerian story for the good of all.
Making the call saturday in his Easter
message to Nigerians, Buhari said since assumption of office, his
administration had worked hard to meet the expectations of Nigerians in
the areas of security, anti-corruption crusade and revitalizing the
economy.
He said his government was determined to continue with the fight against
terrorism, sustenance of the the peace in the Niger Delta through
engagements with stakeholders and restoration of peace and stability in
other parts of the country.
In his Easter message, the president said: “In the almost two years of
this administration, we have worked hard to meet the expectations of
Nigerians by improving security, especially in the North-east,
sustaining the campaign against corruption and have taken steps to
revitalize the economy.
“We are determined as never before to
continue with the fight against terrorism and insurgency; sustain the
peace in the Niger Delta through engagements with stakeholders; and
restore peace and stability in other parts of the country.”
He therefore enjoined “all Nigerians to
keep faith in the determination and ability of this administration to
change the Nigerian story for the good of all.”
Congratulating Christians across the
country on the occasion of Easter celebration, the president implored
Nigerians to maximise the blessings of Easter to promote peace and good
neighbourliness.
Buhari described Easter as historic
celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ which he said marked the
triumph of good over evil, light over darkness, redemption over
condemnation and hope over despair.
Observing that the celebration of Easter
is always preceded by fasting, piety, humility, penance and
intercessory prayers, Buhari said the death of Jesus Christ on Good Friday was one significant event which reunited man with his Creator.
He added that the message of Easter was
filled with themes of love, faith, sacrifice, dedication, commitment,
fulfillment of prophecy, hope, expectation and victory as reflected in
the Scriptures as well as the teachings and lifestyle of the Lord Jesus
Christ.
He appealed to Nigerians to explore the
opportunity of Easter to live peacefully with one another and do their
best to make Nigeria a beautiful place to reside in.
Noting the importance of peace, the president said no meaningful development could take place in an environment devoid of peace.
“It is in our collective interest to
live in peace because without peace, no meaningful and sustainable
development can take place. Lack of peace in one part affects in one way
or the other, all parts of the country. Our people must rediscover the
values of peaceful co-existence, social justice, religious tolerance,
dignity of labour and patriotism,” he said.
In his Easter message, Deputy President
of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, urged Nigerians to use the
occasion of the Easter celebration to rededicate themselves to the
virtues of justice, forgiveness, and reconciliation, which he said were
the essences of the ministry of Jesus Christ on earth.
Ekweremadu said no nation would make
progress unless the people were willing to forgive the past, reconcile
their differences, and enthrone justice for all, irrespective of their
religious, ethnic, and political backgrounds.
Ekweremadu stressed that injustice and
unforgiveness were slowing down the nation’s progress.
He said, “Easter
offers an opportunity for sober reflections, to bind up the
brokenhearted, announce freedom for those held in the captivity of
unforgiveness and vengeance, to let justice reign and make restitutions
to the mistreated”.
He urged Nigerians to continue to uphold
their faith in the nation’s democracy, while also praying for the
nation’s speedy exit from the current economic difficulties.
The deputy senate president, however,
asserted that such faith must also be accompanied by the sincerity on
the side of the leaders to put the nation on the right track of
progress.
“I disagree, once again, with those who
hold the view that we do not need to restructure the country to make
progress. Such mindset is a recipe for more social, political, and
economic woes because we
cannot continue to do the same thing and expect
a different result.
“Righting the wrongs of the past,
therefore, includes restoring for true federalism, the very foundation
upon which our fathers covenanted to build the Nigerian nation to
enthrone justice, equity, and peace as well as speedy and lasting
development”.
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