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Christmas 2018:President Buhari Urges Nigerians to Work Together to Uphold the Nation’s Unity

Politics	1677 VIEWS
Politics
1677 VIEWS

Tuesday, December 25, 2018 09.00AM / Ottoabasi Abasiekong for Proshare WebTV

As Nigerians celebrate Christmas day which is the birth of Jesus Christ the believed Lord and Saviour of the world, global leaders have been sending goodwill messages on the special day.

President Muhammadu Buhari in his message to Nigerians made a strong case for the nation’s unity to be upheld in the midst of its socio-political challenges.

Buhari, in a statement he personally signed on Monday, paid tribute to the Armed forces for their remarkable and selfless service defending the nation.

According to the President the season provides another opportunity for Nigerians to reflect on the imagery of the humble, symbolic and divine birth of a young child thousands of years ago in Bethlehem.

He alluded to the message of hope, compassion, salvation, reconciliation, forgiveness and peace that Jesus Christ embodies and conveys.

Looking at 2018, President Buhari believed the Nigerian economy made significant progress, even as the government remains committed to implementing the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan.

The President also stated that there has been progress in the Agro sector, while the nation’s infrastructural deficit has been greatly reduced with significant improvements in roads, railways, aviation and power.

He acknowledged the institutional reforms to improve the ease of doing business environment and the ant-corruption crusade of his administration.

Buhari decried the spate of violence, farmer/herder clashes, unfortunate fire disasters, floods and road accidents in the course of 2018.

Speaking on the essence of the season he said ”But we can put back smiles on the faces of the grieving, the displaced and the troubled, if we show a little love and recommit ourselves to building relationships with those outside our ethnic, religious and socio-political divides”.

The Nigerian leader called for the demonstration of love during the season through exchange of gifts, praying for and visiting loved ones, visiting the sick and supporting the physically challenged persons.

“Together we can show generosity to our neighbours and demonstrate the diversity that makes Nigeria unique – a land with a beautiful climate and vegetation, beaming with an energetic and creative youth population” Buhari said.

On the 2019 elections, President Buhari said “With general elections around the corner and heightened political activities across the country, I have charged our security and law enforcement agencies to secure the sanctity of the ballot box and ensure that the outcome of the polls reflects the will of the Nigerian people”.

Buhari reassured Nigerians that he is committed to free, fair, credible and violence-free polls which is not a ruse or yet another vain political promise.

He charged Nigerians to work together and prove to the globe that something good can come out from Nigeria.