Merry Christmas
0
As we join billions of Christians all over the world to observe
the Christmas celebration today, it is necessary that we take time to
reflect on the significance of the occasion. This festival, which
commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, is the climax of the yuletide, a
season of goodwill to all mankind, peace on earth and love to all.
Apart from the worship services in churches throughout the country, the celebration is an occasion for the sharing of love and gifts, especially to the less privileged. It is a time for fellow-feeling and good neighbourliness, qualities which appear to be fast-eroding from our national life.
In the feasting and merry-making that attend the joyous celebration, however, the real significance of the occasion and the essence of the birth and life of Christ must be paramount. Excessive eating and drinking, which are normal temptations of the season, should not be allowed to overshadow the importance of the occasion and the need for Christian faithful to build their lives around the virtues of humility, sobriety, compassion and self-sacrifice that characterized the life of Jesus Christ.
It is, however, doubtful if the majority of Nigerians can afford to indulge in excesses. This yuletide, as in the past few years, has been definitely low-key. This is likely due to the fact that the economy is in dire straits. The naira has been devalued in the face of dwindling oil prices and the Federal Government has announced a number of austerity measures for the coming year. Some workers are being owed salaries, some may lose their jobs in the face of the continuing fall in oil prices and the general elections coming up next year are likely to have their own challenges and uncertainties. These scenarios are not the types that encourage a boisterous celebration.
This Christmas, therefore, offers our politicians and public office holders another opportunity to rededicate themselves to the service of Nigerians. The agape love and peace which are the hallmarks of the season should be allowed to rub-off first, on their lives, and then, on their service delivery to their fellow citizens.
Christian teaching holds out Christ as the light, but the prospect of celebrating this year’s Christmas in darkness is very real to many Nigerians owing to the poor electricity supply in the country. There are, indeed, many other problems that may dampen the joy of today in the country. This is why our leaders, and those seeking to replace them, must embrace the opportunity which this Christmas provides to focus on the problems that are currently plaguing us and canvass solutions to them in an atmosphere of peace and unity. Let there be violence-free campaigns and a willingness to embrace the outcomes of the elections in the spirit of give and take in order not to further heighten tensions which are already palpable in the country.
This Christmas presents us with another opportunity to remember the Chibok girls. Today marks exactly 255 days since the unconscionable abduction of these girls. Sadly, and against all expectations, the girls have not been rescued. In fact, many more girls and boys have been abducted since then. We spare a thought for the parents and relatives of these girls and all the others now held hostage by Hoko Haram.
This quagmire in which we have found ourselves is not acceptable and government must quickly do all in its power to rescue the hostages.
We, as a people and a country, die slowly every day for as long as it takes to bring back these innocent ones who are an important part of the future of this country. Simply put, the rest of the world is watching us and what we are doing to redeem our image as a civilised member of the global community.
We must not forget other classes of disadvantaged and vulnerable people in our midst at this time. The weak, the young, the aged, the handicapped, widows, orphans and all other under-privileged people who make up our population deserve attention and love from all true Christians. If we have truly imbibed the message of Christmas, then the season is more about them. We must reach out to them from the abundance or the little we have.
On the whole, we must give thanks to the creator for allowing us to witness another Christmas, fully aware that many started the year with us but did not have the privilege to see today. That is why we, who have made it to this day, must rededicate ourselves to our creator and country, with a solemn promise to do better than ever before. To, indeed, turn from our unprofitable ways and embrace the peace, love and charity that are the hallmarks of this season.
We wish all our readers, fellow countrymen and women and, indeed, all humanity a merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year.
Apart from the worship services in churches throughout the country, the celebration is an occasion for the sharing of love and gifts, especially to the less privileged. It is a time for fellow-feeling and good neighbourliness, qualities which appear to be fast-eroding from our national life.
In the feasting and merry-making that attend the joyous celebration, however, the real significance of the occasion and the essence of the birth and life of Christ must be paramount. Excessive eating and drinking, which are normal temptations of the season, should not be allowed to overshadow the importance of the occasion and the need for Christian faithful to build their lives around the virtues of humility, sobriety, compassion and self-sacrifice that characterized the life of Jesus Christ.
It is, however, doubtful if the majority of Nigerians can afford to indulge in excesses. This yuletide, as in the past few years, has been definitely low-key. This is likely due to the fact that the economy is in dire straits. The naira has been devalued in the face of dwindling oil prices and the Federal Government has announced a number of austerity measures for the coming year. Some workers are being owed salaries, some may lose their jobs in the face of the continuing fall in oil prices and the general elections coming up next year are likely to have their own challenges and uncertainties. These scenarios are not the types that encourage a boisterous celebration.
This Christmas, therefore, offers our politicians and public office holders another opportunity to rededicate themselves to the service of Nigerians. The agape love and peace which are the hallmarks of the season should be allowed to rub-off first, on their lives, and then, on their service delivery to their fellow citizens.
Christian teaching holds out Christ as the light, but the prospect of celebrating this year’s Christmas in darkness is very real to many Nigerians owing to the poor electricity supply in the country. There are, indeed, many other problems that may dampen the joy of today in the country. This is why our leaders, and those seeking to replace them, must embrace the opportunity which this Christmas provides to focus on the problems that are currently plaguing us and canvass solutions to them in an atmosphere of peace and unity. Let there be violence-free campaigns and a willingness to embrace the outcomes of the elections in the spirit of give and take in order not to further heighten tensions which are already palpable in the country.
This Christmas presents us with another opportunity to remember the Chibok girls. Today marks exactly 255 days since the unconscionable abduction of these girls. Sadly, and against all expectations, the girls have not been rescued. In fact, many more girls and boys have been abducted since then. We spare a thought for the parents and relatives of these girls and all the others now held hostage by Hoko Haram.
This quagmire in which we have found ourselves is not acceptable and government must quickly do all in its power to rescue the hostages.
We, as a people and a country, die slowly every day for as long as it takes to bring back these innocent ones who are an important part of the future of this country. Simply put, the rest of the world is watching us and what we are doing to redeem our image as a civilised member of the global community.
We must not forget other classes of disadvantaged and vulnerable people in our midst at this time. The weak, the young, the aged, the handicapped, widows, orphans and all other under-privileged people who make up our population deserve attention and love from all true Christians. If we have truly imbibed the message of Christmas, then the season is more about them. We must reach out to them from the abundance or the little we have.
On the whole, we must give thanks to the creator for allowing us to witness another Christmas, fully aware that many started the year with us but did not have the privilege to see today. That is why we, who have made it to this day, must rededicate ourselves to our creator and country, with a solemn promise to do better than ever before. To, indeed, turn from our unprofitable ways and embrace the peace, love and charity that are the hallmarks of this season.
We wish all our readers, fellow countrymen and women and, indeed, all humanity a merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year.
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How I made 13million in 2013. 1.2million monthly in 2014.
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