•Kalu seeks reconciliation among people
•Ooni canvasses resilience amid tough times
•CAN president preaches reconciliation
Deji Elumoye in Abuja
The First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has called on Nigerians, especially the clergy to pray for the country, declaring that 2024 would be a year of peace.
Mrs Tinubu, who spoke yesterday at the 2023 Service of Nine Lessons and Carols with the theme: “Immanuel, Our Hope of Glory” at the State House, Abuja, said, “I want to appreciate you, we can only covet your prayers. I believe the best is now in Nigeria. We shall experience and see it.”
According to her, “2024 is the year of peace, Nigeria will take her place in the comity of nations.”
In his remarks on the occasion, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Benjamin Kalu, said with the elections over, Nigerians from all political divides must reconcile for the nation’s progress.
His words: “Peace is all the season represents. The Prince of Peace was given birth to. So, those who are angry, agitated and interested in violence should drop it.
“Let us forgive one another, Let us get reconciled to our families, communities, states and the nation.
“We are believing that 2024 will bring what we have never seen before – the prosperity that will amaze us.”
Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi Ojaja II,while speaking, said though the times seemed tough economically, Nigerians could weather the storm through the resilience they were known for.
“My message to Nigerians is that we should continue to look up to God. Yes, things are tight, we all know. But there would be succour. That’s our prayers. All the traditional rulers are joining forces towards this.
“In this festive season, we continue to pray to God for things to be better. We’ve been very resilient, and the resilience will continue to uphold us.
“When things get better, we will have more time to enjoy the fruit of our labour,” he said.
On his part, President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Dr Daniel Okoh, said this Christmas promised to bespecial in Nigeria because it would be the first after the elections that produced President Bola Tinubu and affirmed by the Supreme Court.
He said Nigerians were looking forward to this year’s Christmas with renewed hope, believing that things wouldbe better saying.
“I pray that things will indeed be better,” he said, stressingthat since the elections were over now and there could only be one president at a time, he therefore advised Nigerians to support the current administration.
He urged all Christians to be champions of reconciliation and not crisis and division, saying, “We must love our enemies. This is not the time to pull others down but to build. Let us rally round our political leaders to ensure speed of delivery.”
Former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon; former President Goodluck Jonathan, their spouses, Victoria Gowon and Patience Jonathan; President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio and his wife, Ekaette Akpabio, were among the dignitaries who joined the First Lady at the service.
Other were the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume; Head of Service of the Civil Service of the Federation, Dr (Mrs) Folashade Yemi-Esan; members of the Federal Executive Council, members of the diplomatic corps and traditional rulers, among others.
