Report by Mudasir Opeyemi
The presidential candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress and Peter Obi of Labour have felicitated with Nigerians as they celebrate Christmas.
In his message, Atiku Abubakar promised Nigerians that they would not be spending their Christmas on petrol queues if voted into power.
In a statement by the Special Assistant to Atiku (Public Communication), Phrank Shaibu, the PDP presidential candidate accused President Muhammadu Buhari of failing the people who had relied on him to bring succour to them.
He said, “Atiku Abubakar hereby promises Nigerians that this will be their last Christmas that will be spent at a filling station queuing for petrol. Voting the APC in February will be a reinforcement of failure which could push Nigeria into an existential crisis. To Nigerians, we say the ability to change your destiny lies in your hands.
“With the fuel scarcity now continuing till December, the government has run out of excuses, even as most Nigerians are now at the mercy of black marketers who sell petrol as high as N500 per litre. The NNPC which is the sole importer of petrol has failed to live up to its duties, clear evidence that its privatisation is merely cosmetic.
“But the biggest culprit in this mess is President Muhammadu Buhari who is the minister of petroleum. It is saddening that he has failed to bring succour to Nigerians who are suffering from the worsening inflation, unemployment and insecurity.
“It is disheartening that a country that claims to spend $40m daily on petrol subsidy cannot still make the product available to its people. This is clear evidence that the monies are going into private pockets ahead of elections at the expense of Nigerians.
“The APC which is running for a third term through the person of Bola Ahmed Tinubu is now promising renewed hope after dashing the hopes of millions of Nigerians for the last eight years.
READ ALSO:
- More Vehicles Worth N1.5bn In Ex-Officials’ Possession; Says Osun Govt
- NAN Committed To Workers’ Welfare, To Set Up Joint Committee – MD
- 24 Hours to Christmas, Nigerians Stranded at Fuel Stations
“It is exasperating that Tinubu is promising to remove petrol subsidy when his party has retained it for the last seven years and spent billions of dollars subsidizing criminality. It is obvious that Tinubu’s statement is an indictment on Buhari.”
Speaking in a televised broadcast released on Friday, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) felicitated with his opponents as Christians mark Christmas celebration.
Tinubu,said Christmas is a period of spiritual uplift as both Christians and non-Christians are move to reflect upon God’s love for Mankind and what truly, it means to love your God, your neighbor and yourself.
“I say Merry Christmas to the Farmers, Students, Artisans, Entertainers, Teachers, Police Force, Market Women, Soldiers and to all Nigerians.
Tinubu also included his political opponents in his greetings adding that no matter the political differences,we are all Nigerians.
“No matter our political differences, we are all Nigerians and we must move this nation forward”.
“Thus, let the hope symbolised by this season of celebration also herald our renewed hope in the Nigeria of our dreams. May the joy and great gift of this Christmas be the renewed hope that we can and will forge a better Nigeria with the help and guidance of Almighty God above.”
Meanwhile, Obi has called on Nigerians to remain hopeful for a better nation especially as they prepare for the 2023 general elections.
Obi made this call in his 2022 Christmas Message to Nigerians on Saturday in Awka.
In a statement by his media aide, Dr Valentine Obienyem, the LP candidate said that celebration of Christmas birthed hope in the world, saying, Nigerians should be hopeful for a better and more productive nation.
He restated that Christmas remained a season of love and that the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ should be a constant reminder of how God gave His only begotten son for the salvation of humanity.
“We, as humans should therefore, endeavour to make sacrifices, even when it is painful, for the good of others and for our society.”
He encouraged Nigerians to go beyond the festivities and glamour associated with the Christmas season and strive to live out the true essence of the celebration.
“Fraternal love and giving to the poor are the hallmark of Christmas celebration, I enjoin all to lend helping hands to one another,” he said.
Obi urged Nigerians to see the year 2023 as a very significant year in the history of the nation as it presented Nigerians the opportunity to turn around the trajectory of the nation by giving only competent leaders access to power.
He, however, wished Nigerians a productive and prosperous new year.
Felicitating with Christians and Nigerians at large, the Senate President, Ahmed Lawan, enjoined Christians to spread the messages of love, peace, hope and tolerance that Jesus Christ preached by personal example this Christmas.
He urged Christians in the country to emulate the good deeds of Jesus Christ.
“I heartily rejoice with Christians in Nigeria as they celebrate this annual festival of the birth of Jesus Christ.
“The life and teachings of Jesus Christ enjoins his followers through holy living to be the light and salt that make the world brighter and better for mankind.
“Jesus Christ also commanded his followers to love their neighbours just as they love themselves and to seek peace in the society.
“Abiding by those great instructions is important for Christians everywhere and for all of us in Nigeria as we seek to build a virile and happy nation.
Lawan assured Nigerians that the National Assembly would continue to promote laws that will further propel development and goodwill across the country.
“The National Assembly will continue to promote good governance so that we can overcome our development challenges and set our country firmly on the path of progress, peace and unity.
“The ninth National Assembly has been working with the Executive Arm in the last three and a half years to improve service delivery by government and all its institutions, to raise the standard of living of Nigerians.
“In true spirit of this August occasion, let us also remember to pray for divine guidance for those piloting the affairs of our country, Nigeria,” Lawan said
Also, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila said that Christmas should be a period for sober reflection and re-dedication to His teachings and ways.
The Speaker, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Lanre Lasisi, enjoined the Christians and other Nigerians to pray for peaceful and successful general elections in 2023.
Gbajabiamila, in the statement titled, “Christmas: Gbajabiamila rejoices with Christians, calls for national prayers,”said as the country was getting ready for the general elections, it was imperative for Nigerians to eschew any form of violence and acts that could undermine the peaceful conduct of the polls.
“The Speaker equally urged Nigerians to cooperate with all the relevant government agencies and officials before, during and after the elections,”
He, however, wished Christian faithful peaceful Christmas celebration