Easter: Bankole, govs admonish Nigerians

DIMEJI BANKOLE

Prominent Nigerians on Thursday called on the citizens, especially Christians, to pray for the nation during the Easter celebrations.
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Dimeji Bankole; Governors of Ogun, Otunba Gbenga Daniel; Cross River, Mr. Liyel Imoke; and Abia, Mr. Theodore Orji, were among public officers, who urged Nigerians on the need to promote peace in their Easter messages.
Bankole urged Nigerians to imbibe the virtues of the one who sacrificed Himself for the sins of mankind.
He called on Nigerians to be tolerant and demonstrate selfless love to one another, especially in this trying period in the nation’s political life.
In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media, Mr Ebomhiana Musa, in Abuja on Thursday, Bankole said if indeed Nigerians imbibed these virtues, the senseless killings and destruction of properties witnessed in some parts of the country in the last couple of days would not have been.

Imoke urged Christians to use this year’s Easter to pray for the successful completion of the general elections.
The governor said the reason for Christ’s death and resurrection was significant because it was through the finished work on the cross that Christians draw their strength and everlasting hope.
He added that the 2011 commemoration of Easter was a divine imperative as it coincided with a significant moment in the democratic journey of the nation. He charged Christians to use the period to pray for peace and stability of the country as well as a successful transition in May 2011.

Orji thanked Christian faithful in the state for their steadfastness and ceaseless prayers which had helped to return the state to the path of righteousness.
He said this in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Kingsley Emereuwa.
He said, “I know it for sure that our victory in the battle to free this state from the dark forces wouldn’t have been that easy but for your fervent prayers both individually and corporately.”

Daniel charged Nigerians to use the Easter period to re-examine their commitment and sense of dedication to the growth and development of the country.
The Ogun State governor added that the essence of the period which he said was sacrifice; love for humanity and total submission to the will of God, should not be lost on all and sundry.
He urged all Nigerians to continue to pray and work for the success of the elections and the transition programme.
“Nothing must be done to disrupt the elections, all of us have a stake in this country and we must ensure the success of the electoral process. Winners must be magnanimous in victory while losers should be gallant in defeat,” he said.
By Agency Reporter         Courtesy Of: Punch