Dear Compatriots,
I greet and felicitate with you all once again as we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.
I join
all of our Christian compatriots in giving thanks to God Almighty for
the divine gift of Jesus Christ the Messiah whose earthly incarnation we
commemorate today.
all of our Christian compatriots in giving thanks to God Almighty for
the divine gift of Jesus Christ the Messiah whose earthly incarnation we
commemorate today.
As we
celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ who the Prophet Isaiah heralded as
the Prince of Peace and Wonderful Counselor, I believe it is very
appropriate that we all, Christians and non-Christians alike, reflect
more deeply on the virtues and ideals which the Messiah espoused during
his earthly mission.
celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ who the Prophet Isaiah heralded as
the Prince of Peace and Wonderful Counselor, I believe it is very
appropriate that we all, Christians and non-Christians alike, reflect
more deeply on the virtues and ideals which the Messiah espoused during
his earthly mission.
To my
mind, there can be no doubt that the greater internalization of the
virtues of love for our fellowmen, tolerance, Godliness, honesty,
fairness to others, selflessness, and peaceful co-existence with others,
by all adult Nigerians, and the inculcation of the same in our youth,
will definitely help our dear nation to overcome most of its present
challenges.
mind, there can be no doubt that the greater internalization of the
virtues of love for our fellowmen, tolerance, Godliness, honesty,
fairness to others, selflessness, and peaceful co-existence with others,
by all adult Nigerians, and the inculcation of the same in our youth,
will definitely help our dear nation to overcome most of its present
challenges.
Peace and love for others, especially, were a constant refrain in the Messiah’s teachings and admonitions to mankind.
Therefore,
as we celebrate his birth, I urge all Nigerians to offer special
prayers for a greater manifestation of divine peace in our country and
the vanquishing of all demons of hatred, divisiveness and disunity in
our midst.
as we celebrate his birth, I urge all Nigerians to offer special
prayers for a greater manifestation of divine peace in our country and
the vanquishing of all demons of hatred, divisiveness and disunity in
our midst.
As we
celebrate Christmas, let us also remember and offer special prayers for
all of our countrymen, women and children who have suffered and continue
to suffer untold hardship, deprivation and death at the hands of
terrorists and insurgents.
celebrate Christmas, let us also remember and offer special prayers for
all of our countrymen, women and children who have suffered and continue
to suffer untold hardship, deprivation and death at the hands of
terrorists and insurgents.
Let us
also continue to pray for our gallant soldiers and security agents who
remain at the forefront of the national effort to overcome terrorism and
violent extremism, even as the rest of the nation celebrates Christmas
and the coming New Year.
also continue to pray for our gallant soldiers and security agents who
remain at the forefront of the national effort to overcome terrorism and
violent extremism, even as the rest of the nation celebrates Christmas
and the coming New Year.
In this
season of goodwill, I urge all patriotic Nigerians to rededicate
themselves to doing all within their powers to support the brave men and
women of our armed forces in the ongoing war against terrorism, and
also support the Federal Government’s efforts to provide more succour to
the hapless victims of terrorist atrocities.
season of goodwill, I urge all patriotic Nigerians to rededicate
themselves to doing all within their powers to support the brave men and
women of our armed forces in the ongoing war against terrorism, and
also support the Federal Government’s efforts to provide more succour to
the hapless victims of terrorist atrocities.
The
Victims’ Support Fund which we have established to raise additional
funds to assist our compatriots who have been adversely affected by
continuing insecurity in parts of our country remains active.
Victims’ Support Fund which we have established to raise additional
funds to assist our compatriots who have been adversely affected by
continuing insecurity in parts of our country remains active.
I call
on all individuals and corporate organisations who have not yet done so,
to donate more generously to the Fund which is being efficaciously
deployed to ease the sufferings of victims of terrorist violence in the
country.
on all individuals and corporate organisations who have not yet done so,
to donate more generously to the Fund which is being efficaciously
deployed to ease the sufferings of victims of terrorist violence in the
country.
Dear
Compatriots, we are also celebrating this Christmas against the
background of preparations for next year’s general elections.
Compatriots, we are also celebrating this Christmas against the
background of preparations for next year’s general elections.
I seize
this opportunity to reassure the nation that my administration will give
the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) all necessary
support to ensure that it delivers very free, fair, credible and
acceptable elections in 2015.
this opportunity to reassure the nation that my administration will give
the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) all necessary
support to ensure that it delivers very free, fair, credible and
acceptable elections in 2015.
National
security agencies will also be given all necessary support to enhance
their ability to ensure that the elections which should strengthen
democracy in our country are peaceful and violence free.
security agencies will also be given all necessary support to enhance
their ability to ensure that the elections which should strengthen
democracy in our country are peaceful and violence free.
I urge
our political class to be law- abiding and place the greater interests
of our nation above all personal or sectional interests in the countdown
to the elections.
our political class to be law- abiding and place the greater interests
of our nation above all personal or sectional interests in the countdown
to the elections.
Let us
all be more statesman-like, conduct issues-based campaigns, and eschew
the promotion of falsehood, division and hatred of others as we seek the
votes of our countrymen in what should be a peaceful competition among
contending points of view for the progress and development of our dear
nation.
all be more statesman-like, conduct issues-based campaigns, and eschew
the promotion of falsehood, division and hatred of others as we seek the
votes of our countrymen in what should be a peaceful competition among
contending points of view for the progress and development of our dear
nation.
I remain
convinced that God Almighty is still with us as a nation even in the
midst of our current challenges which we shall surely overcome with
greater unity of purpose, dedication, commitment and perseverance.
convinced that God Almighty is still with us as a nation even in the
midst of our current challenges which we shall surely overcome with
greater unity of purpose, dedication, commitment and perseverance.
Let this
year’s celebration of the birth of Christ the Messiah rekindle,
strengthen and reaffirm our faith in our national ability to overcome
all challenges, with God on our side.
year’s celebration of the birth of Christ the Messiah rekindle,
strengthen and reaffirm our faith in our national ability to overcome
all challenges, with God on our side.
I wish you all very happy Christmas celebrations.
Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR
President,
Federal Republic of Nigeria