We
have seen so many Christmas cards and messages in the past few days. But this
one is different. And that’s because it’s from the number 1 citizen of Nigeria.
President Goodluck Jonathan sends his Christmas message to Nigerians.
Read
it below.
Dear
Compatriots, I greet and felicitate with you all as we celebrate Christmas once
again. I join our Christian compatriots and all other Nigerians in giving
thanks to God Almighty whose Grace and Benevolence has helped our nation to
overcome the many challenges it has had since we celebrated Christmas last
year.
The
annual commemoration of the birth of our Lord, Jesus Christ is a most
auspicious time for us, as individuals and as a nation, to rededicate ourselves
to the virtues and ideals which the Messiah preached and exemplified during his
earthly ministry.
Let us all therefore resolve this Christmas to
make the ideals of peace, harmony, tolerance, love and goodwill to all even
more manifest in our interactions with others.
It remains my sincere belief that no height of
human accomplishment is beyond us as a nation, if we can overcome our
differences, such as they are, and forge a binding national consensus to put
the progress and well-being of the country above all other considerations.
My
administration will do all within its powers and abilities to ensure that when
representatives of our people assemble for the forthcoming national conference
next year, they will have every opportunity and encouragement to make very
significant contributions towards forging the required consensus for sustained
national peace, unity and progress.
It
is also my expectation that the national conference will contribute in no small
measure towards the urgent resolution of contentious issues which currently
hinder our progress as a nation.
With
God Almighty as our Guide, Strength and Enabler, My Administration will
continue to implement its Agenda for National Transformation in furtherance of
its avowed commitment to improving the living conditions of all Nigerians.
We
will continue to count on the prayers, support and cooperation of all patriotic
Nigerians in the coming year as we consolidate and build on our achievements in
several sectors including national security, power supply, communications,
transportation, health and education.
As
we commemorate the birth of the Prince of Peace, let us all strive to honour
Him more by living our lives as He taught; by making personal sacrifices for
the good of others, by showing greater love for others, by being fairer and
more honest in our dealings with others, by being ever-willing to forgive those
who offend us and by always extending goodwill towards others.
On
behalf of myself, my family and the Federal Government, I wish you all very
joyful Christmas celebrations, and a peaceful and prosperous 2014.
Goodluck
Ebele Jonathan,
President,
Federal
Republic of Nigeria.