Dear Compatriots, I greet and felicitate with you all as
we celebrate Christmas once again. I join our Christian compatriots and
all other Nigerians in giving thanks to God Almighty whose Grace and
Benevolence has helped our nation to overcome the many challenges it has
had since we celebrated Christmas last year.
The annual commemoration of the birth of our Lord, Jesus Christ is a
most auspicious time for us, as individuals and as a nation, to
rededicate ourselves to the virtues and ideals which the Messiah
preached and exemplified during his earthly ministry.
Let us all therefore resolve this Christmas to make the ideals of
peace, harmony, tolerance, love and goodwill to all even more manifest
in our interactions with others.
It remains my sincere belief that no height of human accomplishment
is beyond us as a nation, if we can overcome our differences, such as
they are, and forge a binding national consensus to put the progress and
well-being of the country above all other considerations.
My administration will do all within its powers and abilities to
ensure that when
representatives of our people assemble for the
forthcoming national conference next year, they will have every
opportunity and encouragement to make very significant contributions
towards forging the required consensus for sustained national peace,
unity and progress.
It is also my expectation that the national conference will
contribute in no small measure towards the urgent resolution of
contentious issues which currently hinder our progress as a nation.
With God Almighty as our Guide, Strength and Enabler, My
Administration will continue to implement its Agenda for National
Transformation in furtherance of its avowed commitment to improving
the living conditions of all Nigerians.
We will continue to count on the prayers, support and cooperation
of all patriotic Nigerians in the coming year as we consolidate and
build on our achievements in several sectors including national
security, power supply, communications, transportation, health and
education.
As we commemorate the birth of the Prince of Peace, let us all
strive to honour Him more by living our lives as He taught; by making
personal sacrifices for the good of others, by showing greater love for
others, by being fairer and more honest in our dealings with others, by
being ever-willing to forgive those who offend us and by always
extending goodwill towards others.
On behalf of myself, my family and the Federal Government, I wish
you all very joyful Christmas celebrations, and a peaceful and
prosperous 2014.
Goodluck Ebele Jonathan
President,
Federal Republic of Nigeria