The National Chairman of the Labour Party, Julius Abure, has regretted that not many Nigerian homes can afford to celebrate Christmas due to the prevailing economic challenges in the country.
He said this in a Christmas message to Nigerians issued in Abuja on Wednesday by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh.
In his message, Abure charged Nigerians to take the Christmas celebration as a season to love, serve and forgive one another.
He urged them to always show compassion to millions of Nigerians living below poverty level. He said that Jesus Christ who was born in a lowly manger lived his entire life working to put smiles in the face of the less privilege, the poor, oppressed, depressed and the sick.
According to him, “It will interest you to know that not many homes in Nigeria can afford to join in today’s celebration of Christmas because of the economic challenges Nigeria is facing today. But I am using this opportunity to task the society to show love to a neighbour who may be in one form of lack or the other.
“Also at this time, I think of all the men and women serving in the military to ensure our safety, who may not be privileged to be with their loved ones. Thank you for your service.
“As I speak, many of our gallant soldiers are in some trenches in many parts of the country ensuring that the terrorists and gunmen are kept at bay for the rest of us to celebrate the Christmas.
I urge all Nigerians, particularly the clerics to put these patriots in their ceaseless prayers.”
While also preaching about forgiveness, the LP National Chairman said, “There is nothing that will bring more joy to humanity than to be ready and willing to forgive the trespasses of our neighbors against us. There is also nothing that will bring more condemnation to humanity than to harden our hearts and to be bitter and vindictive in our feelings towards those by whom we are surrounded.
“I therefore call on Nigerians to imbibe the teaching of Christ that says ‘forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespasses against us.”
He said that God forgave humanity of their iniquities; and that God so loved mankind that he had to sacrifice his only begotten son that we may be redeemed.
“What a sacrifice. Today’s celebration can not be complete until we begin to allow the significance of the birth of Christ to manifest in our lives.”
