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Atiku speaks to Xtians at Easter
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar urged Nigerians, especially Christian faithful, to take time to pray for the country’s unity and peace as they celebrate Easter.
Abubakar in a statement Saturday in Abuja urged Nigerians to love each other, adding that the essence of the celebration of Easter was not just to rejoice but to reflect on the purpose and meaning of l love and sacrifice.
“Love, because God says we are to love our neighbors as ourselves. And the sacrifice because love is hardly practicable without the intention of making a sacrifice.
“That is why, on the occasion of the celebration of Easter, I urge all Nigerians to take the time to pray first and foremost for peace to return to the country and also for unity.
“Nigeria is on the brink of insecurity, poverty and, sadly, disunity. These are challenges and not obstacles.
“The way to overcome these challenges is to learn from the world when rival superpower countries suspended politics to deal with a common threat in COVID-19.
“I believe that when we approach our challenges with a heart of forgiveness and love, humanity will always triumph. This is the lesson Jesus taught us, ”said Abubakar.
The former vice president while wishing the Christian faithful a happy Easter, urged them to pray for the military personnel, who watched over the sacrifice daily to ensure the safety of the citizens.
Abubakar, however, said the celebration of Easter 2021 was important, as it would be the first major national festival to be celebrated after the administration of vaccines against the dreaded Corona virus began.
He recalled that during the 2020 celebration, there was a global lockdown as most countries around the world demanded that citizens stay indoors and celebrate quietly, for the first time in many generations.
“But this year’s story is slightly different.
“Today there are several certified vaccines and Nigeria, having given nearly one million of our population their first doses of vaccination, has joined the league of countries that are repelling the virus.
“But we’re not close to the safety threshold anyway.”
Abubakar, however, urged Nigerians to stay safe by adhering to all COVID-19 safety protocols to wash their hands, wear a face mask, avoid crowded places and observe social distancing.
Abubakar also stressed the need to appreciate health workers, who, like the example set by Jesus Christ, sacrificed their time and, in many cases, their lives in the fight against the deadly virus.
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