President Umaru Musa Yar�Adua has commended Nigerians for keeping faith with the Federal Government in the past seven months as it grappled with the enormous challenge of moving the nation forward through the implementation of its seven-point agenda.
In a Christmas message to the nation, the President assured all Nigerians that �we will do our very best to ensure that more visible and significant progress is made towards the fulfillment of their hopes for a better country in the coming year.�
President Yar�Adua said: �I also urge you all to find time in the midst of your celebrations to reflect on the themes of godliness, brotherly love, honesty, humility, selfless service and sacrifice for the good of all which dominate Biblical accounts of Christ�s mission on earth.�
He said the Federal Government would continue to count on the goodwill, support and cooperation of Nigerians in the coming year, as his administration would strive to deal with existing and new challenges in the country�s march towards the attainment of its founding fathers� vision of a strong, united and prosperous nation.
Kwara State Governor, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, has enjoined Christians to reflect the virtues and teachings of Jesus Christ in their lives so that the society could live in peace.
In a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Mas�ud Adebimpe, Saraki congratulated all Christians for witnessing yet another Christmas and advised them to use the occasion for sober reflection towards living together in harmony with adherents of other religions.
The governor expressed gratitude to the Christian community in the state for the great support his administration had received from them and commended the Christian leadership for their roles in maintaining religious harmony in the state.
The Edo State Governor, Prof. Oserheimen Osunbor, thanked the people of the state for the support given his administration since its inauguration in May 29, 2007.
He said In the past seven months, the state had witnessed a lot of developments in virtually every sector, adding that Christmas is a period to forget about the failure of the past and sink the ethnic, political and religious differences in the overriding interest of the state.
The Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Chief Godswill Obot Akpabio, called on citizens of the state to use the opportunity of this year�s celebration to reflect on the significance of Christmas as a unifying force and to pray for peace and unity of the state as well as the nation.
�As we celebrate, let us not lose focus of the fact that the birth of Christ typifies love, which is the greats of commandments. We must love one another and as we move into the New Year, we must together resolve to focus only on those things that unite us rather than things that distract or balkanise us,� Akpabio said at a Christmas Carol Nite organised in Government House, Uyo last Saturday.
Abia State Governor, Chief Theodore Ahamefule Orji, has urged Abians and Nigerians in general to show compassion to the needy and less privileged in the spirit of Christmas.
Orji noted that the life and ministry of Jesus Christ on earth was characterised by administering physical and spiritual gifts to all those who came across him and urged Christians to emulate Christ by taking care of the needy amongst them.
The Presidential candidate of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) in the April general elections, Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, extended greetings to Nigerians during the Christmas celebrations.
He said: “In this merry season, we join hands in thanking Almighty God for keeping us alive and our dear country united.
�Whereas, it is regrettable that majority of our people are battling with man made pandemic of depression, despair and despondency in the midst of plenty; however we should take solace in Almighty God that has throughout history provided and cushioned the weak, the humble and the oppressed.�
The gubernatorial candidate of the Action Congress (AC) in Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, has urged the people of the state to celebrate Christmas with high sense of moderation and decency.
In statement issued by Mr Yemi Adamorudu for Dr Kayode Fayemi Campaign Organisation, Fayemi said Christmas symbolises love and hope that God bequeathed on earth as he sent his only begotten son to salvage a drifting world.
He urged them to rely on the concept of Christmas, saying Ekiti too had been given divine hope of a greater future.
He said: �The lessons of Christmas is not lost on the people and that Christ came for a global rebirth, so the people of Ekiti would soon experience socio-political rebirth.�
Meanwhile, residents in the Sabon Gari area of Kano in Kano State have urged the state government to lift the embargo on the sale of alcohol during this festive season.
They said travelling to other states to take alcohol would have an adverse effect on the economy of the state.
A beer seller in the area, Madam Efioma Edomese, said although the state government allowed her to sell alcohol during the just concluded sallah, there were rumours that she would not be allowed to sell alcohol during today�s festivities.
She said the people should be allowed to enjoy themselves as Christmas comes once in a year.
The Hisbah spokesman for the state, Mallam Umar Sule Wudil, declined comments when THISDAY sought his reaction on the matter.
Dec252007