President Goodluck Jonathan has urged Nigerians not to succumb to hopelesssness and despair as they battle with the challenge of nationhood.The president who made this call in his Easter message to the countrymen also said he was convinced Nigeria would overcome all developmental challenges in the shortest possible time if the people worked together as one.
Said the president: “As people of faith, we must never succumb to hopelessness and despair. We must rekindle and retain deep faith in our shared vision of greatness, and continuously renew our determination to achieve our immense potentials through total commitment and dedication to the fulfillment of our national aspirations.”
Jonathan added, “I fervently believe that as the resurrection of Jesus Christ signifies the triumph of light over darkness, Nigeria will overcome its developmental challenges in the shortest possible time if we all resolve to set aside our differences, work together as one people, and foster peace, harmony and security in our country as requisite conditions for steady socio-economic growth and development.”
Specifically, the president pledged that his “ administration will continue to give dynamic, purposeful and effective leadership towards the attainment of our goal of faster national progress and development. We shall continue to put the greatest effort into achieving a positive transformation in the lives of our people with the effective implementation of our agenda for national transformation.
Read his statement below:
EASTER MESSAGE TO THE NATION FROM DR. GOODLUCK EBELE JONATHAN, GCFR, PRESIDENT, COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF OF THE ARMED FORCES, FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA, APRIL, 2012
Dear Compatriots,
I greet you all on this happy occasion of Easter celebrations for the year 2012.
For our Christian brothers and sisters, the significance of Easter which commemorates the resurrection of Jesus Christ lies in its promise to the faithful of ultimate triumph over all challenges and adversity.
We are a people of great faith and the vast majority of our people are adherents of the world’s major faith-based religions.
My message to the nation therefore, as we celebrate one of Christianity’s most holy days, is that we should continue to have faith in our collective ability to overcome all present challenges and take our rightful place in the comity of nations as a strong, united and prosperous country.
As people of faith, we must never succumb to hopelessness and despair. We must rekindle and retain deep faith in our shared vision of greatness, and continuously renew our determination to achieve our immense potentials through total commitment and dedication to the fulfillment of our national aspirations.
I fervently believe that as the resurrection of Jesus Christ signifies the triumph of light over darkness, Nigeria will overcome its developmental challenges in the shortest possible time if we all resolve to set aside our differences, work together as one people, and foster peace, harmony and security in our country as requisite conditions for steady socio-economic growth and development.
My administration will continue to give dynamic, purposeful and effective leadership towards the attainment of our goal of faster national progress and development. We shall continue to put the greatest effort into achieving a positive transformation in the lives of our people with the effective implementation of our agenda for national transformation.
I shall continue to count on your support, cooperation and prayers for the progress and well-being of our dear nation.
Happy Easter celebrations.
Goodluck Ebele Jonathan
President, Federal Republic of Nigeria
