President Muhammadu Buhari has rejoiced with Christians as they
celebrate Easter which commemorates “the supreme sacrifice which Jesus
Christ made for the salvation of mankind”.
“As we celebrate Easter this year, I sincerely believe that it will
serve our dear nation very well if we all imbibe this essential message
of Jesus Christ and truly learn to love our countrymen and women as we
love ourselves,” the president said in his Easter message to Nigerians.
“Indeed, we will surely make faster progress towards the achievement
of the peaceful, united, strong, progressive and prosperous country we
all desire if, as a nation, we eschew all divisive, parochial, ethnic
and religious sentiments and rivalries, and begin to live more
harmoniously with our compatriots, as Jesus Christ and the founders of
the world’s other great religions enjoined mankind.
“Our unfortunate notoriety in recent years as a country where the
blood of men, women and children are wantonly and callously shed in
frequent orgies of criminal, political, ethnic and religious violence
has become very embarrassing and utterly unacceptable.
“My administration is determined to achieve greater peace and
security across our nation by ending the avoidable conflicts and crises
that hinder our national progress.
“I ask for greater support from all Nigerians in this regard. We must
put a stop to politically motivated killings. Our communities must be
made safe again for all inhabitants to live together in peace and
harmony.
“Our armed forces, police and other security agencies are being
progressively reformed, repositioned and empowered to win the war
against terrorism and make mass killings, abductions and other criminal
atrocities things of the past in our beloved country.
“Let us all also play our parts as patriotic citizens and do all that
we can to ensure that we make Nigeria a safer, more peaceful and
happier place for its people and others,” the president said.
“Faith, belief and the fulfilment of expectations are also key themes
of the Easter celebration. I urge you all therefore, to continue to
have faith in the future greatness of our country and to believe that
the CHANGE my administration promised will surely come to fruition.
“That CHANGE, which we all yearn for, will certainly occur more
rapidly if we all place the love of our country above selfish personal
and group interests.
“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,” he said.
