Embrace love, unity at Christmas, Alaafin urges Nigerians

File: Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Akeem Owoade

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The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Akeem Owoade, on Wednesday, admonished Christians that Christmas should be a day filled with love, with appreciation of what God has done for mankind, days of goodwill to one’s neighbours, and days of divine expectation from the Lord.

Owoade, in a statement released by his Director of Media and Publicity, Bode Durojaiye, in Ibadan, said this would transform the country, heal the relationships, and give Nigerians the polity of their dreams.

He said, “If we love with the spirit of Christmas in our hearts, governance would work, electoral reforms would be easier to accomplish, funds would be judiciously utilised for the good of the larger number, while the leadership would love and cherish the led. That is the essence of Christmas, which we commend to all Nigerians, indeed, to all humanity, at this time.

“It was love that took Jesus to the cross. If His heart was not welling and overflowing with love, He could not have offered Himself as a sacrifice. At this time in our country, we commend this love to all citizens. Love that considers others first, love that prefers others above personal and selfish desires, love that seeks to emancipate, to unshackle and liberate.

“Love, sincerity of purpose, sense of commitment and patriotism will take us above internecine killings, agitations, and other divisive tendencies. Let every Christian imbibe all these, and let them inspire non-Christians with their genuine display of the attribute.”

Alaafin further asserted that positive development in good governance and accountability being witnessed presently in Nigeria is serving as a beacon of hope for the citizenry, in spite of subterranean moves by some saboteurs to discredit the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu -led administration.

“Until recently, the lack of transparency, probity, and accountability in Nigeria has translated into a pandemic, thus leading to the absence of effective Nigerian leadership. President Bola Tinubu’s victory which was a victory of hope and transformation, will translate into the beginning of a new dawn for a new democracy in which wanton corruption, abuse of power, lack of transparency in governance, deceit of the citizenry, ineptitude, ethnicity and impunity were orders of the day.

“The track record of Tinubu and his unassailable commitment to democratic processes since Constitutional governance in Nigeria in1999 gives hope that under his leadership, Nigeria will once more instil the values of good and accountable governance in the country.”

While praying God to guide and guard the President and the people of the country in the difficult but must-do task of honesty and accountable governance, Alaafin believed that the integrity and honesty, as well as a never-give-up attitude of the President to a positive cause, would prevail throughout his term in office.

Christmas is a Christian festival celebrating the birth of Jesus christ.

It is celebrated annually on December 25.

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