Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State has called on Christians in Nigeria to use the occasion of this year’s Easter celebrations to pray fervently for the country so that it can overcome the security challenges it is currently facing.
The governor, in his Easter message issued in Ibadan on Friday by his Special Adviser on Media, Dr. Festus Adedayo, also tasked Christians to pray for peace and tranquility to reign supreme in the country.
He said that it was in an atmosphere of love, togetherness and renewed commitment to Nigeria’s unity that Nigeria could attain the much-desired greatness and be counted among the comity of successful nations.
Governor Ajimobi condemned what he called senseless killings, maiming and bombings currently being perpetrated by insurgents in some parts of the country, saying that no religion was in support of taking people’s lives under whatever guise.
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 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.