Former Vice President and chieftain of All Progressives Congress (APC) Atiku Abubakar has called on Nigerians to imbibe the spirit of love and sacrifice as they celebrate Easter, and to watch out for the well-being of one another.
In an Easter goodwill message issued by his Media Office in Abuja, Atiku enjoined Christians, and indeed all Nigerians, to internalize the spiritual gains and benefits of the season for an improved society.
According to him, this is the only path to enthroning a Nigeria where the basic human rights of the rich and poor are respected and upheld, and where citizens can dwell in peace and safety.
“We need to be our brothers’ and sisters’ keepers and, above all, make sacrifice an integral part of our existence. That is the only way the sacrifice and life’s lessons of Jesus Christ will make meaning in our own daily lives and the life of our nation,” Atiku said.
According to him, “the message of Easter is love; unconditional love for each other, not as people from different tribes or places of birth, not as Christians or Muslims, but as members of a commonwealth of humanity. We must love each other as Nigerians first.”
He noted that the ongoing security challenges in our country are saddening, but they also provide an opportunity for us to come out as one people and one nation, to stand together against any persons or forces, which may seek to divide us.
The former Vice President also urged Nigerians to contribute their quota to national security, by reporting any suspicious activity to the police.
“Until we begin to care for one another and to realize that every single human life is precious in the eyes of God, Nigeria will never actualise its destiny as a great nation capable of playing a leading role in the world,” he said.