25th December, 2014
Jimi Agbaje, the governorship candidate of the PDP in Lagos State on Thursday urged Nigerians to remain committed to the unity of the nation.
Similarly, the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) and the Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO) have called on Christians to use the period to reflect on how to preserve the love and unity of the nation.
In a telephone interview with NAN, Agbaje said that the Christmas season should be used by Christians to re-inforce their love for God, Nigeria and for one another.
“The 2014 Christmas is coming at a time when Nigeria’s general elections are at hand.
“We must use this period to preach love and eschew violence as we approach the 2015 general elections,” Agbaje said.
The PDP candidate noted that for Nigeria to survive, Nigerians must strive to love themselves despite all odds.
“Elections are not do or die affair. The message of Christ is love and we must allow love to permeate all our endeavours.
“This love must not be restricted to Christians alone but must transcend ethnic and religious boundaries” he said.
Also speaking, the Lagos State Chairman of the CLO, Mr Ehi Omokhale said that the Christmas period, coming at this time of the nation’s history, called for deep reflection.
“For the coming general elections, we must not allow politicians to divide us.
“Christianity is about love for humanity and every good Christian should not allow politics to come between his love for the other.
“The celebration of Christmas is about the love of Jesus Christ for humanity. Let us replicate that in all our endeavours and especially in 2015 by voting according to our conscience” he said.
Also in his Christmas message, the National Chairman of the New Nigeria Peoples’ Party (NNPP), Dr Boniface Aniebonam, called for peace, love and unity of the nation.
“This year’s Christmas is coming at a very memorable period in the history of our dear country. It is coming as Nigerians prepare for the 2015general elections.”
He said even though fears were being expressed of possible violence and given the state of insecurity in some parts of the country his party believed that “in spite of the dark cloud that is gathering, there is light at the end of the tunnel for Nigeria” .
According to Aniebonam, Nigeria will weather the storm and come out more united and strong.
“As a political party with closer ties to the grassroots, as we move steadily towards 2015 general elections, NNPP is pleading with our politicians to play the game by the rules.
“They should pursue their dreams with the fear of God and the interest of the hapless Nigerian masses at heart.
“In this era of campaigns, politicians should go about it in a manner devoid of violence, mudslinging and character assassination .
“They should engage in issue-based campaigns that will marshall out their plan for our peoples.
He urged INEC to redouble its efforts to face the challenges ahead and deliver to Nigerians fair, free and credible elections.