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Tag: Easter

  • Easter: Senate suspends plenary till April 10

    Easter: Senate suspends plenary till April 10

    As part of activities marking the 2018 Easter celebrations, the Senate on Thursday suspended plenary activities till April 10.

    The Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, made the announcement on Thursday, after the Deputy Majority Leader, Bala Na’Allah (APC, Kebbi South) moved that the Senate adjourn for the day.

    The suspension is because of the Easter celebrations for which the federal government already declared Friday and next Monday public holidays.

    While wishing his colleagues a happy holiday, Mr Ekweremadu admonished his colleagues not to relent in praying for the nation.

    “This is an opportunity for me to wish all of you and everyone a happy Easter and please let’s use the remaining period of the Lent to pray for our country for God to intervene in our lives and ensure that all these killings will stop and our economy would pick up and we continue to leave in unity and there would be progress all round.

    “We believe that God would hear our prayers this period and wish everyone a happy Easter and look forward to seeing you again on the 10th of April,” he said.

  • Easter: Saraki charges Christians to emulate virtues of Christ

    President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, has called on Christians and Nigerians across the nation to work towards emulating the virtues of Jesus Christ as epitomized by his passion, persecution, death and resurrection during Easter.

    In a message signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu, in Abuja, Saraki also stated that all Nigerians must remain constant in their efforts to promote unity across all lines.

    He noted that it was imperative for all Nigerians to come together in order to build a country that both present and future generations can take pride in just like the work of Christ which has endured for over 2000 years and has continued to inspire generations.

    Saraki stated: “This weekend, we join our Christian brothers and sisters in Nigeria and across the world to celebrate the Easter festivities. This commemoration is a time for deep reflection as it marks the sacrifice of Jesus Christ and his victory over death. It is a time to reach out to our brothers and sisters in need.

    “It is also a time for all of us — regardless of faith, or ethnicity — to come together to pray for the peace of our nation. We must all remain constant in our efforts to promote unity — across all lines — because united, our nation remains stronger and we thrive as a people.

    “As we do this, we must all collectively work towards playing our part in the development of our nation and its economy,” Saraki stated.

  • Easter: Learn from Christ, show love to all, Osinbajo charges Nigerians

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Sunday urged Nigerians to emulate the sacrificial love that Jesus Christ showed to all generations by preaching and showing love to all.

    Osinbajo gave the advice while speaking to newsmen shortly after the Easter Service at the Aso Villa Chapel.

    The VP had at the service preached on love to one another and said it was the foundation of the nation’s development.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that Osinbajo’s sermon was entitled: `Revelations on the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.’

    “It is a message for love for all; there is no tribe, no religion; regardless of faith, Jesus loves us. This is how we should relate with ourselves.

    “It is a pure love and I think that it is what everyone should bear in mind at this time,” he said.

    He reminded Nigerians to serve God faithfully to earn forgiveness and salvation in the hereafter.

    Osinbajo noted that spiritually, Jesus stood between hell and heaven, and serves as an intercessor for mankind.

    “All that is required is to believe in Him by acceptance of the commitment he made on the cross,” he said.

     

     

  • Easter: Buhari, Ekweremadu, Atiku, others felicitate with Christians

    Easter: Buhari, Ekweremadu, Atiku, others felicitate with Christians

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Saturday joined notable leaders in the country in sending goodwill messages to Christians and members of other faiths to mark this year’s Easter celebrations.

    The President urged Nigerians to live in peace because without peace, no meaningful and sustainable development can take place.

    He said, “I congratulate our Christian brothers and sisters on the celebration of this year’s Easter.

    “The message of Easter is filled with themes of love, faith, sacrifice, dedication, commitment, fulfilment of prophecy, hope, expectation and victory, as espoused in the Scriptures and the teachings and lifestyle of Jesus Christ.”

    Similarly, the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, urged Nigerians to use the occasion of the Easter celebration to rededicate themselves to the virtues of justice, forgiveness, and reconciliation, which he said were the essences of the ministry of Jesus Christ on earth.

    Ekweremadu said no nation would make progress unless the people were willing to forgive the past, reconcile their differences, and enthrone justice for all, irrespective of their religious, ethnic, and political backgrounds.

    The immediate past President of the Senate , Senator David Mark, also asked Nigerians across the religious or socio-political divide to close ranks and work harmoniously in order to overcome the challenges facing the country.

    The All Progressives Congress and former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, enjoined Christians not to forget the significance of the resurrection of Christ which the Easter season signifies.

    In two separate statements in Abuja, on Saturday, the party and the former vice president urged Christians to imbibe the spirit of sacrifice and continue to pray for the well-being of Nigeria and its leaders.

    The APC noted that the Easter season signified a time for renewal and rebirth. It expressed the hope that there would a rebirth of the belief that “each of us is our brother’s keeper, irrespective of our religious, tribal, political and sundry affiliations.”

     

  • Easter: Nigerians should imbibe Christ’s sacrificial spirit – Jonathan

    Easter: Nigerians should imbibe Christ’s sacrificial spirit – Jonathan

    Former President Goodluck Jonathan on Saturday in his Easter message charged Nigerians to emulate the sacrificial life Jesus Christ led while on earth by accepting to give his life in redemption for the sins of all.

    Jonathan also urged individuals to be conscious of what they can contribute to the growth of the nation and not what the country can do for them.

    In his words: “On this Easter, I think about the unconditional love that Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour, had for us to the extent that He gave His life for our salvation on Good Friday.

    “My reflections also take my mind back to His resurrection by God on Easter.

    “What a lesson for us of what sacrifice can achieve and the benefits it can bring to mankind generally and individually!

    “This Easter, I call on all, whether Christian or Muslim, to emulate Christ and sacrifice something for your nation, for your families and for yourselves.

    “Was it not John F Kennedy who famously said ‘ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country.’

    “Let us not ask ourselves who will change our nations for the better.

    “Let us instead take a look in the mirror and ask how we can change our nations for the better. Indeed, as somebody once said, change begins with me.

    “It begins with you. Let this Easter be the beginning of a positive change in the nations of the world. From my family and I to you and your family, Happy Easter.”

     

  • Easter: Christians, Muslims celebrate, preach peace, unity

    Easter: Christians, Muslims celebrate, preach peace, unity

    Muslims and Christians on Saturday met in Kaduna to mark the Easter, as part of efforts to promote unity, tolerance and understanding among members of different faiths in the state.

    The event, organised by Pastor Yohanna Buru attracted a huge crowd including clerics, traditional and community leaders.

    Buru, the General Overseer of Christ Evangelical Intercessory Fellowship, Sabon Tasha, said Nigerians must team up irrespective of differences to overcome social and economic challenges retarding growth and development.

    “We must unite in order to find means of ending all forms of ethno-religious and political crisis that is setting us backward.

    “We don’t want relative peace but lasting peace that will come to stay in Northern Nigeria, Nigeria and in Africa.

    “We are not asking anyone to compromise his or her faith, but if we can understand one another, we will live in peace and harmony with every citizen, so as to make Nigeria great again.”

    Buru stressed that the basis for any progress is peace, as such Nigerians must strive to pursue the path of peace, dialogue and understanding at all times.

    The District Head of Ungwan Muazu, Alhaji Ahmed Aliyu commended Buru for his unrelenting pursuit of peace in the state.

    Ahmed urged Muslims and Christians to key into the initiative to end hatred, and collectively tackle any form of insecurity in various communities.

    The district head urged people of the state to support ongoing efforts of the state and federal government to ensure peace in all communities.

    Similarly, Malam Gambo Abdullahi, an Islamic scholar appealed to government to address the problems of cattle rustling, armed robbery, banditry, kidnapping and rape.

    He also urged government to address problems of cultism and ritual activities in tertiary institutions.

    Gambo called on all Nigerians to support government in the fight against corruption and in punishing looters of national treasury.

    “We expect you to extend this gospel of peace to people in your communities when you get back home and we must teach our children peace from the grassroots,” he said.

     

     

    NAN

  • Easter: Oba of Benin tasks Christians on virtues of Jesus Christ

    Easter: Oba of Benin tasks Christians on virtues of Jesus Christ

     

    The Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, has enjoined Christians to imbibe and exhibit the qualities and virtues of Jesus Christ in their daily living and dealings with others.

    The monarch; in a statement signed and issued on Saturday by his Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Mr Desmond Agbama, said that should people exhibit those qualities enumerated above, they would pave way for a better society.

    Oba Ewuare II while felicitating with the entire Christian community as they celebrate Easter, urged them to see the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ as symbols of the Christian faith.

    He admonished Christians to be guided by the principles, gospel and the commandments of Jesus Christ at all times.

    The Benin monarch urged Christians to endeavour to live harmoniously with one another, irrespective of religion, tribe or race.

    He, however, called on Christian leaders and their congregation to pray for the unity, peace and progress of Benin kingdom, Edo and Nigeria in general.

     

     

    NAN

     

  • Pope ahead of Easter: ‘Violence is no cure for our broken world’

    Pope Francis issued a fresh appeal for world peace on Thursday, in an interview published hours before he was due to perform the pre-Easter ritual of washing prison inmates’ feet.

    After leading a mass in St Peter’s Basilica, Francis was scheduled to visit Paliano prison, about 75 km south-east of Rome.

    In previous years, the pope washed feet in a juvenile prison, a centre for the disabled, a high-security jail and a refugee centre.

    “All I want is to call even more strongly for peace for this world subjugated by arm traffickers who profit from the blood of men and women,” Francis told Italian newspaper La Repubblica.

    “Violence is no cure for our broken world,” he added.

    The washing of the feet recalls the gesture that Christians believe Jesus performed on the 12 apostles before the Last Supper. It shows that the man the apostles saw as their leader was capable of the most humble act.

    Francis said the Catholic Church’s duty should be to “stand by the last in line, the marginalized, the discarded,” and added that convicts should not be judged too harshly because “we are all sinners, but Jesus forgives us with his mercy.”

    Easter, falling on Sunday, celebrates the resurrection of Jesus and is the most important Christian holiday.

    In the run-up to it, Francis is scheduled to preside over the traditional Via Crucis (Way of the Cross) procession on Friday, and lead an Easter vigil on Saturday.

  • Easter: FRSC deploys 25,000 personnel, logistics nationwide

    Easter: FRSC deploys 25,000 personnel, logistics nationwide

    The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has deployed 25,000 personnel and 869 vehicles for a special patrol to enhance road safety during the forthcoming Easter celebrations.

    The deployment includes; 267 motorcycles, 106 ambulances and 22 tow trucks for the special patrol exercise scheduled to run from April 13 to April 18.

    Spokesman of the FRSC, Mr Bisi Kazeem, said in a statement on Tuesday that the arrangement was in anticipation of mass movement of people and goods across the country during the period.

    According to Kazeem, the Corps Marshal, Dr Boboye Oyeyemi, has directed that adequate measures be put in place to ensure free flow of traffic and reduction in road accidents.

    He said the measures were also geared toward improved enforcement of traffic laws and improved enlightenment on proper road usage within the period.

    He stated that the operation would focus on traffic control, excessive speeding, dangerous driving and overtaking, failure to use/install speed limiting device, tyre violation, among other traffic offences.

    “Operational equipment in the categories of radar guns, alcholyzers and all other operational logistics are to be fully deployed for this exercise.

    “The Corps Marshal has equally directed that all Zebras must be active 24/7 and be responsive to calls within the minimum FRSC response time to crashes reported,’’ the FRSC spokesman said.

    The operation, he said, had been programmed to run in shift as follows: 6 a.m. to 2 p.m.; 2 p.m. to 8 p.m.; 8 p.m. to 10 p.m., and that night rescue teams are to be on standby at all operational commands.

    Kazeem said the corps would work in collaboration with the Military, Police, Civil Defence Corps, Department of State Services (DSS), and other security and traffic management agencies.

    He quoted the Corps Marshal as calling on all road users to imbibe the culture of proper road usage to safeguard their lives and those of others.

     

     

    NAN