The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has advised citizens not to let off their guards on COVID-19 protocols to curtail its spread during the yuletide.
CAN President and Co-Chairman, Nigeria Inter Religious Council (NIREC), Rev. Samson Ayokunle, gave the advice in a statement on Thursday, in Abuja.
Ayokunle said the call was necessary as the world had entered the fourth phase of the pandemic and it was spreading faster than other phases.
“Please, wherever you go, especially in public places such as markets and Churches, wear your masks and keep all the safety protocols. I Iray that none of us will die untimely in the mighty name of Jesus” he said.
The clergyman also urged political leaders to use the Christmas season to bring relief and joy to the citizens.
According to him, it is the good they do now that people will remember tomorrow.
“Please, let us reduce the pains of Nigerians by paying more attention to their well-being, by ensuring prompt payment of workers’ salaries and pensions to pensioners.”
“Let all things be done to reduce the high cost of things in the market and let enabling environment be created for employment of our youths who are roaming the streets having no job’’ he said
The clergyman stressed the need to stop the killings, kidnapping of citizens and all other acts of ‘wickedness’ because God would judge those acts on the day of judgement.
He said that Christmas was a season of hope, peace and joy and CAN rejoiced with all Christians in the country and the world .
He said that Christmas season was when God became man to live among men in order to redeem them from all sins and eternal death.
“My prayer is that nothing will steal from your joy of this season in the name of Jesus Christ”
“Let us remember that the devil is a deceiver and what we are passing through presently in Nigeria might not be what will cause us to rejoice”
“ Of course, what we are currently passing through may not give anybody hope of tomorrow, humanly speaking unless those in power are more decisive and God intervenes for us” he said
Ayokunle, however, urged Nigerians to remember that part of the purposes of the birth of Jesus Christ was to give hope to the hopeless, deliver mankind from sin and set the captives free.
“My message to all Nigerians is to remain hopeful in Christ Jesus and rejoice in hope no matter what the situation we are passing through may be.”
“Our Father God can turn all situations around in Christ Jesus because as God, he can do all things. He is our way maker and He will make way for us in the name of Jesus” he said.
Ayokunle further called on Christians and Nigerians as a whole to allow the Lord rule over their lives, share the message of His saving power with others who do not know Him and show love in a practical way to someone around them.
He called on Nigerians to embrace one another through the love of Christ irrespective of religious, ethnic and political differences and be reconciled to God and to one another.
“I wish all of you a Merry Christmas and a happy and very prosperous New Year, 2022 in Jesus’ name’’ he added
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