Governor Olusegun Mimiko has asked Nigerians to reflect, in the spirit of Easter, on what further personal sacrifice they can make to the development of the country and mankind.
Mimiko in his Easter message said: "Christ, the persona in the centre of Easter, epitomised sacrifice of self for the good of all. Celebrating him therefore must be with a deep understanding of the need to put the pursuit of selfish and parochial goals aside and devoting time and energy to societal goals.
Congratulating Christians as they celebrate, Mimiko, said: "With security challenges facing Nigeria, Christians and non Christians alike must understand that we have only this country to call our own and so be ready to seek peace with one another.
Jesus' life exemplified sacrifice. He lived and died for humanity. No sacrifice could be greater than this. As we celebrate Easter therefore, we need to emulate Christ and reflect on what sacrifice we can make to move the society forward,"
The governor noted that his administration has worked tirelessly to transform Ondo State in its first four years and is poised to even do more now that it has been sworn-in for a second term. To move forward, Mimiko said, both the government and the people will need to sacrifice more.
He prayed that the God of Easter will grant the country the needed peace for growth and development in our time.
Ajimobi felicitates with Christians at Easter, urges peaceful
co-existence among Nigerians
As Christians in Nigeria join their counterparts all over the
world to mark this year’s Easter celebrations, Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo
State has called on Nigerians to imbibe the spirit of love, togetherness and
renewed commitment to Nigeria’s unity and peaceful co-existence.
The governor, in his Easter message issued by his Special
Adviser on Media, Dr. Festus Adedayo, said that it was only in the atmosphere
of peace and tranquility that Nigeria could witness an all-round development.
He urged Nigerians to emulate Jesus Christ who offered
himself as a living sacrifice for the redemption of mankind.
While congratulating Christians on the successful completion
of the 40-day fasting, he said that they should use the occasion to reflect on
the essence of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ as well as the
opportunity it offered them to be closer to their Creator.
``Easter is not about wining and dining. Rather, it is an
occasion to realize that we need to love one another as exhibited by God who,
out of his love for mankind, offered Jesus Christ to die for our sins and to
give life more abundantly.
``This being the case, we should now eschew any divisive
tendency, violence and other things that are antithetical to the teachings of
Jesus Christ,’’ the governor said.
He also commended the Christians, Muslims and other religious
adherents in the state for their peaceful co-existence, urging them to continue
in their prayers for his administration so that the state could be taken to
greater height.
Gov. Ajimobi also charged them not relent in their prayers
for Nigeria in order for it to surmount the security challenges currently confronting
it.
