04042021 - Tension as gunmen kill Miyetti Allah leaders in Nassarawa

SUNDAY VANGUARD, APRIL 4, 2021, PAGE 37
EASTER: We’re better
er, , stronger as a nation, Buhari,
Lawan, an, Govs, others tell Nigerians
…as Catholic bishop tells secessionists to work for unity of Nigeria
By Our Reporters
s Christians all over the
Aworld commemorate
the death and resurrection of
Jesus Christ, Nigerians have
been urged to imbibe the
virtues of Christ and live in
peace and unity with one
another.
This is as the Catholic
Bishop of Abeokuta Diocese,
Dr. Peter Odetoyinbo called
on those agitating for the
disintegration of Nigeria to
jettison the idea and work for
its unity, progress and
development under a united
entity.
The call for peace and unity
in Nigeria took centre stage
in this year’s Easter messages
following clashes and calls
for separation from some
parts of the country.
There is also heightened
fears that more regional
activists in the mould of
Sunday Igboho and Nnamdi
Kanu would rise.
In the face of this existential
threats, political and
religious leaders across the
country believe that there was
no better time to preach unity
and peaceful co-existence
than this period that
Christians celebrate Easter.
President Muhammadu
Buhari, who led other leaders,
in felicitating with Nigerians,
described the season as an
opportunity to renew hope
and faith, show love and
appreciation to one another
and not to despair, no matter
the challenges of the period.
The president, in his Easter
message to Nigerians by his
media adviser, Mr. Femi
Adesina, urged Nigerians not
to allow “few mischief
mongers to destroy the
country’s unity.
He said: “We should not
allow the antics of a few
mischief mongers to
fragment the unity and faith
that the vast majority of
citizens of this country cherish
and believe in. As I’ve said
before, we are better and
stronger as one nation under
God.”
While rejoicing with
Christians, Buhari recalled
that a year ago, “in most of
our major cities, our
celebrations were somewhat
subdued, as we battled the
effect of the deadly COVID-
19 pandemic.
“The restrictions meant
that our brethren could not
attend traditional church
services as they would have
wished. I salute their
resilience and understanding.
Today, we can congregate
and worship together,
cautiously.
Lawan harps
on tolerance
President of the Senate, Dr
Ahmad Lawan, in his
goodwill message, stressed
the importance of peace and
love in promoting national
unity.
Lawan urged Nigerians to
use the occasion to preach
religious tolerance, love for
neighbours and commit to
civic responsibilities.
According to him, building a
great nation requires
sacrifice, endurance and
hope, especially in Nigeria
where diversity in tongues
and faiths make the task
complex.
He assured the people that
the National Assembly would
continue to work for them, in
their legitimate pursuit of
peace, happiness and
prosperity.
Pray against
insecurity – Okowa,
Oborevwori
From left: Budweiser brand ambassador, Mr Ebuka Obi-Uchendu;
Marketing Director, International Breweries Plc, Tolulope Adedeji;
Budweiser Smooth Kick-Off promo Mercedes-Benz winner, Mr Emmanuel
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presentation of prize to the winner of Budweiser Smooth Kick-Off promo
in Lagos. Photo: Akeem Salau
Delta State Governor, Dr.
Ifeanyi Okowa, and the
Speaker of the State House
of Assembly, Chief Sheriff
Oborevwori, have called on
Christians to use the period
of Easter to pray for the state
and the country, lamenting
that insecurity and other
socio-political inadequacies
were threatening the nation’s
stability.
Okowa in a statement by
his Chief Press Secretary, Mr
Olisa Ifeajika, said, “This
Easter is an opportunity for
Christians to seek God’s face
in prayers to settle the myriad
of security issues and
widening division of
Nigerians along religious
and tribal lines.
Oborevwori in a statement
by his Chief Press Secretary,
Mr Dennis Otu, said Easter
exemplified the ultimate
sacrifice made by Jesus
Christ to save mankind and
called on Deltans to rededicate
themselves to the
service of the state as they
reflect on the ideals of Easter
celebration.
Embrace virtues
of sacrifice - Diri
Governor Douye Diri of
Bayelsa in his Easter message,
implored citizens of the state
to embrace the virtues of
sacrifice, love and hope that
the Easter season typifies.
Diri said Easter not only
embodied the culmination of
the perfect plan to reconcile
humanity to divinity but that
it also reminds mankind of
the unique love of God, the
supreme sacrifice of Jesus
Christ and ultimately the
hope for redemption for those
who accept the gift of
salvation.
He urged the people to see
the sacrificial death and
unstoppable resurrection of
Jesus as a pointer that hope
was available to those who
believe.
Ugwuanyi urges
faith in God
Also, Governor Ifeanyi
Ugwuanyi of Enugu State has
called on all Nigerians to
take advantage of the
significance of the
resurrection of Jesus Christ to
advance peace and commit
themselves to God.
The governor, who
maintained that Easter is the
hallmark of Christianity,
stressed that the celebration
of Christ’s resurrection and
salvation offers Nigerians a
great opportunity to come
closer to God and promote
all virtues that would
enhance peace, love, unity
and progress of the country.
Emulate virtues of
Christ- Sanwo-Olu
Similarly, the Lagos State
Governor, Babajide Sanwo-
Olu, through his Chief Press
Secretary, Mr. Gboyega
Akosile, said, “good
neighbourliness, selflessness
and patience were among the
several lessons taught and
exemplified by Jesus Christ
and his resurrection.
“As we mark this event, I
want to urge Christian faithful
in the State to continue to live
in peace and harmony with
believers of other faiths. We
should emulate virtues of
humility, perseverance and
compassion as exemplified
by Jesus Christ.”
Join Hands to
rebuild Kwara -
AbdulRazaq
Meanwhile, the Kwara
State Governor,
AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq,
has appealed to citizens to
join hands with his
administration in its efforts to
rebuild the state to become
the regional and national
reference point for human
capital development and
sustainable growth.
In his Easter message by
his Chief Press Secretary,
Rafiu Ajakaye, AbdulRazaq
urged Kwarans to “renew
our hope, embrace one
another and purposefully
forge ahead with unity in
diversity”.
Abiodun harps
on unity
Ogun State Governor, Dapo
Abiodun, has called on
Nigerians, especially
residents of the state, to
embrace peace, love and
unity as the world celebrates
Easter.
The governor, in a
statement by his Chief Press
Secretary, Kunle Somorin,
said the resurrection of Jesus
had indeed shown that the
country has a great hope to
rise from the present ashes to
a powerful nation.
He noted that the country
was going through
challenges and implored the
people to emulate the love
Christ showed while being
crucified, to move the country
forward.
Obaseki preaches
forgiveness
The Edo State Governor,
Mr. Godwin Obaseki has
charged Christians to imbibe
the exemplary life of love,
selfless service and
forgiveness, which Christ
demonstrated in his death
and resurrection.
Obaseki, in his Easter
message, urged the Christian
community to emulate Jesus
Christ by making sacrifices
that would advance the cause
of development and reflect on
the purpose of Easter.
Ortom assures of
security of lives,
property
For Governor Samuel
Ortom of Benue, the death
and resurrection of Jesus “is
a period when Christians
should draw closer to God to
reap from His grace and
mercy in the face of
adversities.”
The Governor, in a
statement by his Chief Press
Secretary, CPS, Terver Akase,
assured that his
administration would
continue to place priority on
the security of lives and
general welfare of the people.
Fayemi urges
peaceful coexistence
In his felicitations, the Ekiti
State governor, Dr. Kayode
Fayemi, urged Christians to
imbibe the spirit of tolerance,
peaceful co-existence and
sacrifice for the common
good.
Fayemi stressed that
development and growth can
only take place when the
people are united, and called
on Christians to pray for
God’s intervention in the
country’s efforts at tackling
various challenges, especially
insecurity.
Expect better
tomorrow, Ikpeazu
Governor Okezie Ikpeazu
of Abia State has urged the
people of Abia State to expect
better days ahead.
In his Easter message, the
governor told Abians to draw
inspiration “from the
significance of the season
which is synonymous with
fresh hopes and a brighter
tomorrow.”
He assured the people that
Abia is on a journey towards
rediscovery to a destination
that is sure and settled - the
Abia of our dreams
U z o d i m m a
preaches sacrifice
Likewise, Governor Hope
Uzodimma of Imo State has
advocated the need for
Christians to be prepared to
make sacrifices for the good
of their neighbours and the
larger society.
Uzodimma, in his Easter
message, urged the people to
reciprocate the love of Christ
by joining hands to create a
better society and country for
all regardless of religious and
political affiliations.
He said, “Let us, therefore,
resolve during this Easter
celebration to truly love our
country and state by thinking
more of what we can do to
make our state and country
better than thinking more of
what we can get out of our
country and state”.
Imbibe love for
country - Agba
Also, the Minister of State
for Budget and National
Planning, Prince Clem Agba,
has called on Christians to
imbibe the spirit of love for
country and good
neighbourliness, which the
teachings and lessons of the
death and resurrection of
Jesus Christ exemplified.
Agba said in an Easter
message, encouraged
Christians to show tolerance
and embrace peace,
understanding and other
virtues that unite humanity,
strengthen friendship and
deepen brotherhood.
Pray for leaders
- Gbajabiamila
On the other hand, the
Speaker of the House of
Representatives, Femi
Gbajabiamila, has urged
Nigerians, especially,
Christians to pray for the
country.
In a statement by his media
aide, Lanre Lasisi,
Gbajabiamila said despite the
challenges facing the country,
there would be light at the end
of the tunnel, hence the need
for prayers now and always.
Mark,
Ekweremadu,
Nnamani too
Former President of the
Senate, Senator David Mark,
his then deputy, Ike
Ekweremadu, and former
governor of Enugu State,
Senator Chimaroke
Nnamani have urged
Nigerians to imbibe the
culture of religious tolerance
and peaceful coexistence.
In their separate Easter
messages, the senators
canvassed for a harmonious
society that guarantees a winwin
situation for all.
“Let us work towards
building trust and confidence
between and amongst our
people to stimulate a
harmonious relationship. We
are stronger together and we
can surmount our difficulties
as a people.”
Odetoyinbo counsels
secession agitators
Odetoyinbo, while
condemning the issuance of
ultimatum to some Nigerians
to vacate a section of the
country, said, “every Nigerian
must have a sense of
belonging and should be free
to live in any part of the
country”.
The Catholic bishop made
this appeal in his Easter
Message. He noted that “the
calls for the disintegration of
the country or secession by
some nationalists in the name
of restructuring must be reevaluated
particularly when
it is tainted with hate and
resentment.
”Such rights should be
exercised with respect for the
rights of other citizens and the
constitutional provisions of
the government. A
detribalized Nigeria should
be our dream where people
are not judged by their tribes
but by the quality of their
person, character and
competence”.
Address insecurity
now, Martins tells
FG
Similarly, the Catholic
Archbishop of Lagos,
Adewale Martins, has
charged the government at
all levels to be more proactive
and sincere in tackling the
numerous challenges facing
the nation such as insecurity,
corruption, economic
downturn, ethnic agitations,
unemployment, among
others.
Martins made the call in a
statement by the National
Director of Social
Communications, Catholic
Secretariat of Nigeria, Fr.
Mike Umoh, in Abuja.
While calling on Nigerians
to unite and work assiduously
to build a peaceful and united
country, the prelate warned
that failure to do something
urgently and address these
problems could adversely
affect national development.
Methodist church
prays for peace
Bishops of the Methodist
Church, Nigeria, have called
on Nigerians to embrace
peace and love for the
country to move forward.
In their separate Easter
messages, Bishops Owen
Nwokolo, Henry Okeke, and
Livinus Onuagha of Diocese
on the Niger, Diocese of
Ideato, Imo State, and
Diocese of Onitsha, Anambra
State, respectively, charged
Nigerians to be patient in the
face of prevailing hardship
and insecurity in the country.
They noted the hardships
Nigerians were going
through and urged them to
trust in God, as He would not
forsake them.
The prelates, who regretted
the number of lives and
properties lost to terrorism,
said Easter is a time to seek
the face of God for possible
positive changes in the
nation’s political, economic
and social life.
Adeboye, Kure
pray for Nigerian
children
The General Overseer of
Redeemed Christian Church
of God, RCCG, Pastor Enoch
Adeboye and the immediate
past General Secretary of
Pentecostal Fellowship of
Nigeria, PFN, Apostle
Emmanuel Kure have asked
God to insulate Nigerian
children from any harm.
Adeboye, during the special
virtual monthly Holy Ghost
service for children, urged
Nigerian parents to pray
against another wave of the
coronavirus pandemic. “I
believe there shall be a
Passover for Nigeria.
Government at all level must
use this period to see how they
can practically allay the fears
and tension all over the
place.”
Speaking in the same vein,
Kure said he believe that a
healing balm for “our nation
is coming. Christians must go
back to living the life of
Christ. We have lost it there.”
CUPP urges
for prayer
Equally, the Coalition of
the United Political Parties,
CUPP, has urged Christians
to use the occasion of the
Easter celebration to pray for
Nigeria, noting that the
country was in a very terrible
state, which required urgent
divine intervention.
The CUPP in a goodwill
message to Christians by its
Chairman of Contact and
Mobilization Committee,
Rev. Olusegun Peters, called
for fervent prayers for God’s
intervention to redirect the
ship of the nation from its
current perilous course.