The message of Christmas is love
It is another Christmas season with its traditional ambience of celebration and jollity, for Christians and non-Christians alike. The day is celebrated around the world to mark the birth of Jesus Christ over two thousand years ago in Bethlehem, Israel. All around the world the day and the season draw public attention to the need […]
It is another Christmas season with its traditional ambience of celebration and jollity, for Christians and non-Christians alike. The day is celebrated around the world to mark the birth of Jesus Christ over two thousand years ago in Bethlehem, Israel. All around the world the day and the season draw public attention to the need for people to demonstrate compassion and goodwill to each other, regardless of nationalistic or cultural backgrounds. This dispensation is a reflection of the message of the season which is love as demonstrated by the Christian belief that Jesus Christ was born out of the love of God to save sinful mankind.
As in other parts of the world, in Nigeria too there is exchange of gifts, messages of goodwill and public holidays to mark the day. For this year’s Christmas day, the Federal and all state governments have issued goodwill messages to citizens which always highlighted the need for peaceful coexistence among Nigerians. In his Christmas message President Muhammadu Buhari reminded Nigerians that “There is no better time than now in our nation’s history to pray for divine guidance to get over our current challenges. We can have peace in Nigeria if we all learn to tolerate and appreciate one another, respect constituted authority and be our brothers’ keepers in word and deed.” He also said, “During this period we should remember to offer special prayers to God for our heroic citizens who paid the supreme price to restore peace and security in the North East and other flash points in the country.”
This year’s Christmas season comes at a time of significant challenges for Nigeria and its citizenry, given the economic recession and the security challenges in various parts of the country. While insecurity may not manifest in uniform intensity across the country, the recession is widespread and has imposed significant pressure on the purchasing power of the average Nigerian. Significantly associated with recession is the scarcity and attendant sky rocketing prices of traditional items for celebrating the season, and which have thereby gone out of reach for the non-affluent.
However, the prevailing situation should not dampen the mood of the season since the essence of the season is not merriment and revelry. It is rekindling the values of mutual love, compassion and goodwill, each of which cost nothing to express towards fellow mankind. From all indications we have taken the situation in our stride as reflected in the manner in which citizens have adapted and adopted various measures to ensure that they cope with the season’s challenges.
It is that spirit of Nigerians to adapt successfully in the face prevailing realities that provides the assurances and impetus for the government to facilitate launching and executing programmes aimed at changing the living conditions of the citizens for the better. It is not the best that many workers in both public and the private sectors marked the 2016 Christmas season without being paid their salaries. Some may even have their ordeal extend way into the New Year. In his concern for the plight of workers who are owed salaries for months on end, President Muhammadu Buhari directed state governments to use part of their excess Paris Club debt deductions to pay workers’ salary arrears.
This situation on non-salary payment is not conducive to good governance or to social peace. Nor should the welfare of Nigerian workers, whether in the states or as security agencies in the various, tense theatres of engagement with enemies elicit the concern of rulers only during the Christmas season. Life runs throughout the entire year and everyday should be Christmas in terms of love, compassion and justice. We wish all Nigerians a merry Christmas and may the best of the season be your portion.