Govs preach peace, unity at Easter (Hypocrites)

Posted by admin Governors, Headlines Monday, April 1st, 2013

AS Christians all over the world celebrate the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, Nigerian governors have in seprate messages wished the faithful a wonderful and peaceful celebration, urging them to allow peace to reign in their lives and the country.

In his message, Governor Olusegun Mimiko asked Nigerians to reflect, on what further personal sacrifice they can make towards the development of the country and mankind.

Mimiko in his Easter message said: “Christ, the persona in the centre of Easter, epitomised sacrifice of self for the good of all. Celebrating him therefore must be with a deep understanding of the need to put the pursuit of selfish and parochial goals aside and devoting time and energy to societal goals.

Congratulating Christians as they celebrate, Mimiko, said: “With security challenges facing Nigeria, Christians and non Christians alike must understand that we have only this country to call our own and so be ready to seek peace with one another.

“Jesus’ life exemplified sacrifice. He lived and died for humanity. No sacrifice could be greater than this. As we celebrate Easter therefore, we need to emulate Christ and reflect on what sacrifice we can make to move the society forward,”?

The governor noted that his administration had worked tirelessly to transform Ondo State in its first four years and is poised to even do more now that it has been sworn-in for a second term.

Also, Governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura of Nasarawa State, on Sunday, admonished Christians nationwide to allow the death and resurrection of the Jesus Christ to reflect in their day-to-day activities with a view to justifying His crucifixion for their own safety.

The governor, who commended them for the successful completion of the Lenten period that culminated in the Easter celebration, however, added that His death and resurrection were one of the greatest events in the history of Christendom and humanity.

In a press release issued by the state government and signed by the Director of Press to the deputy governor, Danjuma Joseph, a copy of which was made available to the Nigerian Tribune in Lafia, the state capital, Governor Al-Makura implored the Christians to use this memorable event which was the basis of Christian faith, to preach and promote peace, as pre-requisite for the development of the state in particular and the nation at large.

He urged them to use the opportunity of the wonderful season to reflect on the lessons of the crucifixion, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, saying as a moment of sober reflection Christians must look inward for a better relationship with their creator.

While stressing the need for multi-religious dialogue in co-existence, Al-Makura said the significance of the celebration to mankind is multi-dimensional and called on Christians to reflect it in their relationship with one another and people of other faiths alike, to ensure peace and stability in the state.

Delta State governor, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan, in his Easter message, urged Nigerians not to despair in the face of the challenges confronting the country.

The governor urged Christians to reflect on the import of Easter celebrations in their dealings, not only with other Christians, but with people of other religions.

He said Nigerians must eschew bitterness and all forms of violence, stressing that the progress, peace and security of the nation was anchored in good neighbourliness and peaceful co-existence

“I urge you all to let the significance of the celebration reflect in our relationship with one another, both Christians and the people of other religions. There is no doubt that these are tough times in our country.

“Intolerance and impunity continue to rear their heads through sectarian violence. But, rather than succumb and feel threatened about these uncertain times, we should rise to the fact that these are trials that are supposed to strengthen our resolve to confront our challenges,” Governor Uduaghan said.

He reminded Christians that having gone through 40 days of fasting and prayer, Easter was a better time for them to purge themselves of those weights that “have impeded our progress as a people over the years by demonstrating love in its fullness not only to one another, but also to our society.

“The major lesson of Easter is for us as Christians to rethink the reality of our faith. As Christians, we should continue to uphold the principles of our faith as it relates to honesty, justice, integrity, accountability, compassion, selflessness and the pursuit of the common good,” he added.

The governor also used the celebration to draw the attention of Christians to the underlining message of the cross which, he said, must not be lost to the accompanying festivities.

“The passion and death of Jesus underscores the love of the Father who gave His only begotten son in love for us and the willingness of the Son to sacrifice himself for others to be liberated from the weight of sin.

“The story of Easter is that of relief that comes after anguish, pains, trauma, deprivations and sacrifices. Indeed, before the joy that heralds the glorious morning of resurrection, there was terror and thick darkness that were strong enough to swallow up the eventual joy of Easter. It is, therefore, necessary to remind us all that there is always a glorious dawn after darkness, and without the difficult challenges, the huge and irrepressible triumph of Easter would have been a fantasy.”

Governor Uduaghan also used the medium to reiterate the commitment of the state government to make life better for all citizens and residents.

Benue State governor, Mr Gabriel Suswam, in his Easter message, called for collective action by political, religious, community leaders and stakeholders to stem the insecurity situation in the North, which has profoundly undermined economic activities in that part of the country.

The governor also expressed deep concern over the wanton destruction of lives and property by the Boko Haram sect, which is gradually eroding the value of life in Nigeria.

According to a statement signed by his Special Adviser (Media and Public Affairs), Dr Cletus Akwaya, the governor observed that society could only make progress when “people are guided by the spirit of love, harmony and peaceful co-existence as espoused by Jesus Christ Himself while on earth.”

Suswam, who felicitated with the people of Benue State and Christians generally, said the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ brought salvation to the human race.

He said it was incumbent on humanity to reciprocate the gesture by dedicating their lives to the service of God Almighty.

While urging Christians not to allow the joy of Christ’s resurrection to overshadow the sacrifice of death, which preceded it, the governor called on people of the state, particularly the Christian community, to be prepared to make sacrifices in the interest of nation building, at a time the country was facing enormous security challenges being perpetrated by the Boko Haram sect.

He enjoined the people to continue to be vigilant and report any acts capable of causing a breach of the peace to appropriate security agencies, saying that without peace, development would be a mirage.

He thanked the people of Benue State for the support and commitment extended to his administration since it assumed office and hoped to continue to count on their support and sacrifices in the years to come.

The governor also commended President Goodluck Jonathan for his steadfastness and dedication to the transformation of Nigeria.

The Northern States Governors Forum (NSGF) also urged Christians to imbibe the ideals of perseverance, sacrifice and commitment to the will of God, which characterised the Lenten season.

Chairman of the forum and Niger State governor, Dr Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, on Sunday congratulated Christians and all Nigerians on the Easter celebration, reminding the faithful that “we are alive today only by God’s grace and favour and not that we are in any way special before the almighty.”

In a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Danladi Ndayebo, a copy of which was made available to the Nigerian Tribune, the forum called on Nigerians to be mindful of the need to continue to render selfless service to humanity, which underscores the essence of Christ’s resurrection on Easter Sunday.

The forum urged citizens to use the opportunity of the Easter celebrations to pray for the quick resolution of the security challenges confronting the nation.

The statement further enjoined Nigerians to pray for and work towards peace, stability and progress of Nigeria, emphasizing the need for Nigerians to support the actualization of the nation’s transformation agenda.
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Posted by admin on Apr 1 2013. Filed under Governors, Headlines. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry