Atiku, Mark, Oritsejafor Preach Sacrifice, Religious Tolerance At Easter
Former Vice President and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Atiku Abubakar has urged Nigerians to be strong amidst the current difficulties confronting the country.
He predicted that better days would soon come as there was hardly any testimony without a test and a crown without a cross. In an Easter message released in Abuja by the Atiku Media Office, the Turaki Adamawa said that the message of Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection was a perfect analogy for the current situation in Nigeria.
“The significance of the celebration of Easter, demonstrates that there is never an indomitable situation that hope, good team-spirit and hard work cannot overcome.” The former Vice President also urged his compatriots not to lose hope, particularly as the ruling APC government continued to work assiduously in finding long term solutions to the country’s hydra-headed problems.
“Things may seem rough and tough today, but it is only for a while. Nigeria will surely rise again in line with the spirit and tenets of Easter.”
The Turaki Adamawa urges Nigerian leaders at all levels to emulate the great sacrifice that was the life of Jesus Christ, by working to ensure that they do everything within their powers to lift majority of Nigerians out of poverty into prosperity.
Similarly, a former President of the Senate, Senator David Mark has canvassed for a peaceful, harmonious and united Nigeria where brotherly love reigns amongst the citizens.
In his goodwill message to Nigerians marking this year’s Easter celebrations, he said that virtues such as religious tolerance and good neighbourliness were strategic for peaceful coexistence and meaningful development. Mark urged Nigerians to respect the sanctity of the constitution which prescribes freedom of worship in which every citizen can uphold and practice his or her chosen faith any where without molestation .
He implored clergymen to inculcate in their followers the time-tested virtues of our faith anchored on love, sacrifice , forgiveness and good neighbourliness which the Lord Jesus Christ symbolizes.
He enjoined Christian National President, Christian Association Of Nigeria (CAN), Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor has also felicitated with all Nigerians on the occasion of the Easter celebrations, describing it as another opportunity to reflect on the lessons of the season.Easter, Oritsejafor said, was the climax of the Lenten season, was meant to remind Christians of God’s power over everything that he created including death.
“Nigerians, particularly Christians from different denominations must work in line with the teachings of Easter which focuses primarily on penance, forgiveness, sacrifice and the demonstration of unconditional love for one another.
“As Nigeria strives to contain the menace of insurgency and social injustice which has displaced many, Christians are enjoined to offer prayers for the poor and the abandoned in this special period of Easter.
Christians must also respond to evil with good as exemplified in the life of Christ which is summarized in the story of Easter,” he said. The cleric urged Nigerians to remember to lend some help to thousands of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) scattered across the country and remain committed to the service of their fatherland and the cause of humanity.
