*Ambode, Amosun, Okowa, Emerhor, others preach humility

By Our reporters

President Muhammadu Buhari used the occasion of Easter celebrations, yesterday, to reassure Nigerians that his administration will deliver on its change agenda.

Buhari explained that this government had not derailed from the promise he made during electioneering campaign, pointing out that, with the passage of the 2016 Budget, better days are ahead.

Governors Akinwumi Ambode (Lagos), Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun), Ifeanyi Okowa (Delta), Willie Obiano (Anambra) and Abdulfatah Ahmed (Kwara) also preached unity, love and tolerance.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar; Minister of Solid Minerals, Dr. Kayode Fayemi; Senate Minority Leader Godswill Akpabio; leader of Delta State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Olorogun Otega Emerhor; (Peoples Democratic Party (PDP); and its governorship aspirant in Ondo State, Otunba Gbenga Otolorin Elegbeleye, also greeted Christians on the celebrations.

In his Easter message, Buhari said:

“The National Assembly has just passed the 2016 Budget. I assure all Nigerians that we will do our utmost best to ensure that the budget, the first since my election as President, is efficiently and successfully implemented towards achieving our objective of faster economic growth and development.

“I thank the vast majority of Nigerians for their patience and understanding in the first ten months of this administration.

“As we go forward, I assure you all that we are working very hard to overcome the challenges we encountered on assumption of office. We are moving on with an unshaken resolve and determination to deliver on the mandate you gave us on March 28, last year.”

While recalling with regrets the orgy of violence and political killings that characterized the past, the President said his administration would not accept the vice, saying that security agencies had been repositioned to fight them.

Atiku, in his own message, enjoined Nigerians to be strong amidst current difficulties, assuring that better times would soon come.

In the statement released in Abuja by the Atiku Media Office, the former VP said that the message of Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection was a perfect analogy for the current situation in Nigeria today encouraging Nigerians not to lose hope.

Buhari

Ambode  called on Nigerians to collectively imbibe the spirit of unity, tolerance and peaceful co-existence as panacea for overcoming the nation’s current challenges.

In his Easter message to Lagosians, he said such fundamental values would go a long way in promoting and strengthening the foundation of love, peace and harmony in the society adding that the season should serve as a reminder to all of the selflessness, love, sacrifice and tolerance of Jesus Christ throughout His earthly sojourn.

In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Habib Aruna, the Lagos governor said, “Remembering that foundation is particularly meaningful this Easter because our nation is facing challenges that we can overcome if we choose to, by exercising collective tolerance and be ready to make sacrifices”.

Amosun urged Christians to pattern their lives after Jesus Christ.

In his Easter message, the Ogun State Governor urged Christians and indeed all Nigerians to learn from the life of selfless service and love lived by Jesus Christ.

He said this was exemplified by the sacrifice made by Christ when he was crucified.

Okowa charged Christians to emulate the humility of Jesus Christ.

In his Easter message to the people of Delta, the governor said in spite of his heavenly endowments, Jesus Christ took up the cross in utter obedience to God’s will.

In the goodwill message, signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Charles Aniagwu, he said the society would be a better place if adherents of Christianity imbibe the spirit of love and sacrifice, which according to him, is the bedrock of Christianity.

Obiano called on Christians to use the opportunity provided by Easter to re-establish the presence of God in their lives.

In his message, the Anambra governor observed that the complex challenges facing modern Christians had seriously eroded the values that once sustained the essence of mankind and weakened the connection between them and Jesus Christ and called for rigorous self-interrogation and re-awakening.

Ahmed urged Nigerians, irrespective of religious and ethnic backgrounds, to do something different and meaningful to move Nigeria forward.

In his Easter message, signed by the Chief Press Secretary, Alhaji Abdulwahab Oba, the Kwara governor called on Nigerians to use the opportunity of being alive with the freedom to optimise God given potentials to make life more meaningful for the less privileged neighbours.

The PDP called on Nigerians to use the occasion of Easter to renew the bond of love, forgiveness and peaceful co-existence, irrespective of religious, ethnic and political persuasions.

In a statement in Abuja, the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Olisah Metuh, quoted the Chairman, Ali Modu Sheriff as calling on Nigerians to use the occasion  to overcome bitterness and division.

Former President of the Senate David Mark  called   for a peaceful, harmonious and United Nigeria where brotherly love reigns.

In his message, he maintained that such virtues   as religious tolerance and good neighbourliness were strategic for   peaceful co-existence and meaningful development.

Akpabio, in his message, felicitated with Christian faithful, charging them to continue living in love and harmony.

Fayemi felicitated with Christians and Nigerians in general for witnessing another Easter season, urging them to always uphold the virtues of love and sacrifice which are the hallmark of the Easter celebration.

The Minister, in his Easter goodwill message, signed by his Special Assistant on Media, Mr Yinka Oyebode, also called on Nigerians to make ample use of the opportunity of the season for sober reflection.

Emerhor commended the spiritual commitments and intensive prayers of the nation’s Christians and spiritual leaders.

The Delta APC leader’s message released in Abuja by his Director of Media and Political Communication, Dr Fred Latimore Oghenesivbe, said Easter is a period of self spiritual assessment by every Christian and offers greater and better opportunities for positive adjustments in our relationship with the “HOLY TRINITY” as well as setting new agenda for spiritual upliftment to achieve individual and national divine destiny.

Elegbeleye described Easter as a good time to reflect that our country is one of the most successful multicultural societies in the world.

The former DG of the National Sports Commission, and firm believer of an egalitarian Ondo State stated further, “By the grace of God, our beloved nation, Nigeria will move forward despite all challenges. Let us all pray this Easter, that God Almighty, who has brought us this far, will continue to bless our nation as we march onward towards the fulfilment of our collective vision of a truly united, strong and prosperous nation. Happy Easter to you all”.

The Catholic Archbishop of Lagos, His Grace, Alfred Adewale Martins; his Anglican counterpart, Archbishop Ephraim Ademowo; and General Superintendent, Assemblies of God, Nigeria, Rev. Chief  Okoroafor have assured Nigerians that God will answer their prayers.

In his Easter message, signed by the Director of Social Communications, Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos, Msgr. Gabriel Osu,  Martins, while noting that millions of Nigerians are currently going through excruciating hardship occasioned by current economic reality, assured that the down-turn was only a temporal challenge that was surmountable with prayer and purposeful leadership by those at the helm of affairs.

Ademowo said it was time for our leaders to demonstrate the fear of God and consult Him on the affairs of Nigeria.

Okoroafor, in a sermon titled Christ is Risen, said the resurrection of Christ is essential to the Christian faith for without it Christian religion means nothing.