President Muhammadu Buhari has
said he is delighted to join Christians to commemorate this year’s Easter
celebration.
In his message released on
Thursday, the president thanked God for the opportunity to celebrate another
Easter despite current challenges.
Noting that Easter is the season
in which Christians mark the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, which
represents the triumph of good over evil and life over death, Buhari added that
the period is also a time to show love, forgiveness, compassion and renewed
hope in the Grace of God.
He said further: “The Holy
Scripture affirms that happiness and fulfilment in life do not flow from
acquiring the best things in life, but in being richer in a relationship with
God and fellow human beings.
Let us use the opportunity of
this special season to deeply reflect on how every one of us can imbibe the
profound teachings of Jesus Christ with renewed vigour.
In so doing and by placing the
joy, comfort and happiness of others above ours, we will make a statement that
vices such as, hate speech, bigotry, corruption, banditry and terrorism have no
place in our nation. We must do all it takes to love our neighbours and display
increased spirit of tolerance and accommodation.
I commend those who recognise and
support our unwavering efforts to prevent the spread of conflicts in our
communities; check wanton criminality and the taking of innocent lives; unite
the country; and steer the ship of state to a steady path of economic growth,
job creation and development.
While we enjoin law-abiding
fellow compatriots to work for peace and social justice in our beloved country,
let there be no doubt of our resolve to firmly resist others who may want to
make cheap political capital out of current national security challenges.
Our programmes and policies in
the last three years have resulted in bringing down the prices of staple crops;
gradual improvement of road, rail and electricity infrastructure; and making
Nigeria the preferred destination for investors. More than ever before, we are
ready to consolidate on these gains and ensure that we improve the lot of our
communities in the years ahead.
Thankfully, our Dapchi
schoolgirls who were safely released recently after 30 agonizing days in the
hands of their abductors, have been reunited with their families. I am very
optimistic that all others, including the Chibok girls who are still in
captivity will be safely released unconditionally to their families. I urge you
to continue to pray for their safe return.
In the meantime, I have given
clear instructions to our security agencies to prioritise safety in schools in
areas where the humanitarian and security situation are still dire, in addition
to ensuring adequate protection of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).
As we approach the period of
campaigns, I appeal to our political actors and other stakeholders to resist
any act that could mar the integrity of our electoral process.
I am optimistic that with God on
our side, the dark days of Nigeria’s elections being manipulated by violence
and rigging by corrupt politicians and their agents are over. They are confined
to the dustbin of history where they rightly belong. I remain committed to
bequeathing a legacy of supremacy of the people’s will through the ballot box.
May this year’s Easter
celebration bring us renewed hope and confidence as a great nation.”
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