In a message to Nigerians, especially Christians celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ, Buhari also called on Nigerians not to allow the current socio-economic and security challenges to dampen their expectations for a better Nigeria.
He called on all Nigerians to rededicate themselves to the virtues, which Jesus Christ taught his followers.
He said living in accordance with these virtues would help to make Nigeria a peaceful and united country.
“We must never again allow any group to hold the nation to ransom under whatever guise. Let us also not allow current socio-economic and security challenges to dampen our expectations for a better Nigeria.
“This administration has taken a number of measures to restore hope to our people. The 2016 budget defines our commitment to giving Nigeria a new lease of life.
“Our change slogan is not a campaign gimmick but a promise that must be kept. We are determined to bring about tangible changes in the lives of our people.
“In this regard, efforts will be intensified to recover stolen funds, block revenue leakages and enthrone due process, transparency and accountability,” he said.
He reminded public offices holders that public office was a public trust that must be held to the highest ethical standards.
While wishing all Nigerians a Merry Christmas, the president urged those driving to various destinations for the holidays to do so carefully.
The state read further: “I felicitate with all Nigerians, especially our Christian brothers and sisters on the joyous occasion of this year’s Christmas.
“On this occasion of the commemoration of the birth of Jesus Christ, let us all rededicate ourselves to the virtues of peace, love, honesty, justice, equity, piety, humility and service to others which he taught.
“There can be no doubt that a greater manifestation of these virtues and ideals in our lives will immensely help us to become a more united, peaceful, secure and progressive nation.
“Let us also reach out in love and compassion to fellow Nigerians who are in distress at this period of our nation’s history.
“I particularly urge you all to remember victims of terrorism and insurgency in the country, especially internally displaced persons (IDPs).”
Buhari said the federal government would continue to collaborate with state governments and other stakeholders to ease the harsh conditions in IDP camps, while the ultimate objective remains to quickly bring to an end of the insurgency and return the refugees to their homes.
In their Christmas messages, Senate President Bukola Saraki, his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu and his predecessor, David Mark also felicitated with Nigerians today as Christians commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ and urged them to embrace peace and unity as vital tools for the rebuilding of the country.
In separate statements, the three statesmen encouraged Nigerians to maximise the opportunity of the birth of Jesus Christ to rededicate themselves to the principles of nation building and love towards one another.
Saraki, in his goodwill message signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Yusuph Olaniyonu, said the virtues of peace and unity were not only crucial to the developmental drive of the current administration, but also necessary to ensure the country takes its rightful place in the comity of nations.
He said the economic challenges currently facing the nation as a result of dwindling revenue inflow into the Federation Account was a passing phase which will eventually give way to a better future.
He urged Nigerians to renew their faith in God and remain dedicated to the course of national development in the true spirit of Christmas which epitomises love, perseverance, patience, brotherly kindness and the spirit of sharing.
“This is another season of love, season of liberation, sacrifice and giving to the needy. The commemoration of the birth of Christ and the whole essence of His life shows the reality of God’s love to mankind.
“Let us reflect on the message of Christmas by living peacefully and harmoniously which is one of the cardinal tenets of both Christianity and Islam.
“Irrespective of our religious beliefs, we should open our hearts with love and prayers for the unity and progress of this great nation,” he stated.
In his message, Ekweremadu, according to a statement by his Special Adviser, Media, Uche Anichukwu, urged Christians to follow the footsteps of Christ and pursue peace, unity and love towards all men.
He canvassed the need for unity as an inevitable virtue for the nation’s realisation of its full potential, and urged Nigerians to exhibit the spirit of forgiveness, humility and selflessness, which Jesus Christ stood for.
He said: “As we celebrate Christmas, I call on Nigerians to emulate the forgiving spirit and selflessness of God who sent his only begotten Son to save mankind from eternal damnation.
“We must also imbibe the humble, peaceful and caring natures of Jesus Christ and do away with the vices of recrimination, nepotism, ethno-religious intolerance, and political inconsideration, which have held the country down over the years.”
Ekweremadu added that the current economic challenges arising from the dismantling of fiscal federalism had promoted competitive development, industry, accountability and good governance in the golden era of the nation’s federalism.
“I hope that someday soon, we would all see reason to rise above primordial sentiments and proclivity for free money, which promote corruption, indolence, and profligacy and revert to fiscal federalism, a cardinal pillar of the union bequeathed by our founding fathers for realising our full potential and greatness,” he added.
In the same vein, Mark urged Nigerians to persevere in the face of the current security and socio-political challenges, saying, “This period calls for sober reflection and a resolve to support the efforts of government to overcome the challenges.”
He called on Christians and Muslims to embrace one another in the spirit of the season by celebrating Christmas and Eid-el-Maulud and demonstrating peace, love, unity and good neighbourliness.
He noted that the current security, economic and socio-political challenges facing the nation are not insurmountable if everyone plays its role as expected.
Mark advised Nigerians not to allow their political affiliations to undermine national interest, adding that irrespective of political association, “we must remember that Nigeria is one nation of a people with a common interest and the welfare of citizens remains the ultimate goal”.
He advocated positive synergy between the executive and legislative arms of government without compromising their separate constitutional mandates in order to facilitate the delivery of dividends of democracy to the ordinary man.
In his message, the national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Bola Ahmed Tinubu said that the lessons of the birth of Jesus Christ must be imbibed continuously by all his followers.
The message issued his media office, said: “The lessons of humility, selflessness, humanity and meekness that we glean from the evergreen Christmas story must not depart from our relationships here on earth.”
According to Tinubu, this is the only way the blessings of Christmas will abide always beyond the celebrations.
“Nigeria is at the cusp of a new moral threshold and the role of religion in making a success of this effort is critical. While wishing Nigerians a merry Christmas we must not forget that Nigeria needs us to contribute our quota in making it achieve greatness,” he said.
Similarly, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and All Progressives Congress charged Nigerians to use this year’s Eid-el-Maulud and Christmas celebrations to offer special prayers for the unity and stability of the nation, and recommit their individual and collective security and economic welfare into the hands of God.
The PDP said the special prayers had become “essential as the nation is now, more than ever before in dire need of divine intervention, especially as citizens cope with the sudden hardship occasioned by poor management of the nation’s economy in the last seven months”.
The party, in a statement signed by the National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh yesterday, said the two important celebrations, coming at this trying time, offers the citizens an opportunity to put aside every political, religious and ethnic differences and unite against their prevailing common challenges.
“Nigerians across board have in the last few weeks been recalling the campaign promises made by President Buhari and the APC, particularly, their December 24, 2014 Christmas message wherein they promised several reforms and welfare programmes that will, in their own words, ‘begin to positively impact on the citizenry within its (APC) first few months at the helm, to such an extent that Nigerians will have a better Christmas celebration in 2015’.
“Whilst we understand the indignation, frustration and disappointments occasioned by the long list of unfulfilled promises and dashed expectations under the current regime (and justifiably so), we urge that Nigerians should not recourse to hauling insults at the president as this would not bring the succor they seek.
“The challenges we face today as a nation should not make us lose our dignity and demureness as a people. They should not make us miss the essence and meanings of Eid-el-Maulud and Christmas and the divine succor they bring, especially the assurance that there is always an end to every negative situation.
“The PDP therefore calls on all Nigerians to use the occasions to reflect on those things that bind us together as a nation; show love to one another and commit the nation into Gods’ hands, even as we charge the political class to be conscious of divine accountability in all their dealings.
“On this note, the acting National Chairman of the PDP, Prince Uche Secondus, on behalf of the PDP National Executive Committee (NEC), wishes all Nigerians joyful Eid-El-Maulud and Christmas celebrations,” the opposition party said.
On its part, the APC said Nigerians should be more tolerant, peaceful and try to co-exist with one another.
In a statement by the National Chairman of the APC, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, the party said as the Christians commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ, Nigerian Christians and non-Christians alike should reflect deeply on the virtues of love, tolerance, godliness, honesty, fairness, selflessness and peaceful co-existence which the Messiah espoused during his earthly mission.
Odigie-Oyegun, in his goodwill message, urged Nigerians to offer special prayers for peace, unity and development in the country.
He urged Nigerians to shun hatred, divisiveness and promote national unity.
He also urged Nigerians to pray for the military and other security agents fighting to overcome terrorism and violent extremism, and offer prayers for victims and displaced persons in the insurgency-ravaged Northeast.
Odigie-Oyegun also asked religious leaders to pray for the nation and its leaders continuously, saying that the prevailing situation in the country called for wise counsel and divine intervention.
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