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Easter: Wike, Obuah, Others Felicitate With Christians
The Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, has felicitated with Christians on the celebration of Easter, urging them to emulate Jesus Christ by making sacrifices that will advance the course of development.
In an Easter message, Wike said that Easter exemplifies the ultimate sacrifice made by Jesus Christ to save mankind, noting that as individuals, Christians must take into consideration the welfare of others.
He called on the people of Rivers State to re-dedicate themselves to the service of the state as they reflect on the ideals of Good Friday and Easter celebration.
Wike assured the good people of Rivers State that he will continue to make sacrifices for the state, defend her interests and ensure that the people always enjoy good governance.
He said Easter was a period of fresh beginning, forgiveness, love and friendship, and urged the privileged to reach out to the less privileged as everyone works to deepen the culture of true Christianity.
While wishing the people of the state a Happy Easter celebration, Wike assured them of their security before, during and after the celebrations.
Also speaking, the Rivers State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Bro. Felix Obuah has urged Christians in the state to use the Easter period to pray for the continuous success of the administration of Governor Nyesom Wike.
Obuah, in his special Easter message, said such prayers would go a long way to engender good governance and uplift the well-being of the people.
According to the PDP chairman, “Easter is an opportunity for Rivers people to cultivate a spirit that defines who we are as Christians”, and urged them to make sacrifices through prayer and fasting, adding that the governor needs their prayers for God’s favours and mercies to meet the socio-economic needs of the people.
He described the Easter celebration as a moment of sacrifice when our Lord Jesus Christ gave Himself as a ransom to redeem man from his sins.
Bro. Obuah stressed that the price for Christ’s death for mankind was immeasurable as the Christian faith was anchored on His death and resurrection.
He charged Christians and people of the state to compliment government’s effort by meeting one another’s needs, adding “There is no better time to do this than this period of economic recession”.
”Our governor, as a human being is also faced with challenges associated with governance. We should support him by doing the needful like carrying out our obligations as good citizens. We should not sabotage his efforts by engaging in acts inimical to his administration” said the PDP chairman.
As Bayesla State, the Governor Seriake Dickson called for greater sacrifice, peace, love and unity among Christians all over the world as they celebrate Easter.
Dickson said that these are virtues and qualities that Christ himself displayed and propagated throughout His life time on earth.
In his Easter message, made public by his Chief Press Secretary, Daniel Iworiso-Markson, the Bayelsa State governor noted that, the significance and real meaning of the season would be lost, if Christians allow selfish tendencies, hatred and intolerance to influence their lifestyles and general conduct.
He stated that, the country, and indeed, the world will be a more peaceful place, if Christians and adherents of other religions see themselves as one and the same people, irrespective of their religious, political, cultural and ethnic affinities.
Dickson, who also urged leaders at all levels of government to make sacrifice, as well as work in one accord to turn around the economic fortunes of the country, called on all Nigerians to see the current challenges facing the nation as a collective responsibility.
While wishing Christians a happy Easter celebration, he encouraged them to keep faith with the policies and programmes of the restoration administration in the state, stressing that, better days were ahead, while also urging them to pray fervently for the peace, unity and progress of the state and the nation in general.
Similarly, Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara State has called on the people of the state to be united and renew their commitment to moral rejuvenation of the state.
The governor, in his Easter message yesterday in Ilorin, congratulated Christians for a successful completion of lent.
The governor called on Christians to imbibe the lessons of the holy period and allow them reflect on their daily life.
“I urge Christians to remain committed to the service of God and humanity.
“ You should be determined to show affection, care and sympathy to all and sundry as demonstrated by Jesus Christ.
“As you came out pure and simple from this spiritual rejuvenation, you are expected to live an exemplary life of Jesus Christ,” the governor said.
Ahmed also called on the people of the state to pray for the success of the current administration in its determination to restore dignity and honour to the country.
He reiterated the determination of his administration to continue to serve the people of the state and fulfill his electoral promises.
Also, Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State has urged Nigerians to allow love for the country reign supreme in their lives.
He said Nigerians must ignore those creating divisions and disunity in the country, stressing that “forces of division have nothing to offer other than chaos and negativity.”
The governor, in his Easter message in Sokoto, Saturday, by his Special Adviser, Media and Publicity, Imam Imam, also said that ”love for the country means loving the people of the country without distinction.
“Only by loving our country can we attain lofty heights in development, growth and prosperity.”
While rejoicing with Nigerians, especially of Christian faith for witnessing this year’s easter, Tambuwal urged them to promote peace and harmony at all times.
He pledged to continue promoting unity and peaceful coexistence among Nigerians, and urged the people not to relent in prayers and support for government.
Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, has called on Nigerians to reject silence in the face of extrajudicial killings and other abuses of human rights.
Soyinka stressed that accountability and civic courage remain essential to rebuilding public confidence in the nation’s institutions.
He made the call during the 28th Wole Soyinka Lecture held in Port Harcourt, last Friday as part of activities marking his 92nd birthday.
The lecture, themed “Reclaiming the Nigerian State through Accountability, Justice and Civic Courage,” drew participants from different sectors of society.
The renowned playwright and human rights advocate said the country’s greatest tragedy was not only the unlawful killings carried out by state and non-state actors, but also the silence that often follows such incidents, allowing perpetrators to evade justice.
According to him, indifference by citizens to abuses of power and violations of fundamental human rights has contributed to the persistence of extrajudicial killings and other forms of injustice across the country.
Soyinka said he dedicated this year’s lecture to victims of unlawful killings, noting that the event was intended to honour individuals who had lost their lives as a result of failures within the justice system and society’s inability to protect the sanctity of human life.
He stressed that the lecture was dedicated to what he described as the basic unit of every society – the human being, and urged Nigerians to place greater value on human dignity irrespective of ethnicity, religion or social status.
The Nobel Laureate recalled several incidents of violence, including the fatal shooting and killing of a young man in Ugheli in Delta State by a police officer, and the mob killing of Deborah Yakubu in Sokoto State sometime ago, lamenting that many of those responsible are yet to face justice.
He expressed concern that some perpetrators of violent crimes had openly admitted their actions without fear of prosecution, describing such situations as evidence of serious failures within the nation’s justice system.
Soyinka maintained that when justice is delayed or denied, public confidence in state institutions continues to erode, thereby encouraging further violations of human rights.
Responding to critics who accuse him of promoting religious or ethnic divisions whenever he spoke on such issues, Soyinka dismissed the allegations and pointed out that his advocacy has always centred on the protection of human life and the rule of law.
He urged Nigerians to remain vigilant and continue demanding justice in cases of alleged extrajudicial killings, including the recent shooting of a young man by a police officer, stressing that every life deserves equal protection under the law.
The literary icon also recalled an earlier pledge by a past incoming president to make public the files relating to unresolved assassinations and extrajudicial killings, questioning the status of the promised investigations.
He challenged citizens to continue asking questions about unresolved cases, insisting that justice, accountability and respect for human dignity are indispensable to building a peaceful, democratic and inclusive Nigerian society.
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has clarified that there was no fire at Terminal 2 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, contrary to its earlier advisory.
Earlier yesterday, FAAN had announced that a fire incident had occurred at Terminal 2 of the nation’s busiest airport, and assured that its Aerodrome Rescue and Firefighting Service had been deployed to contain the situation.
There were also reports that activities were briefly disrupted at the airport yesterday after smoke was seen inside parts of the terminal.
Videos circulating online showed passengers kept standing outside the terminal while firefighters responded to the incident.
However, in an update issued less than two hours later by the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Henry Agbebire, and posted on FAAN’s official X handle, the authority said preliminary findings showed that the smoke seen at the terminal was caused by the discharge of the facility’s FM-200 fire suppression system.
“Further to our earlier advisory regarding the incident at Terminal 2 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) wishes to provide the following update,” the statement read.
“Preliminary findings indicate that there was no fire at the terminal. The smoke observed within the affected area resulted from the discharge of the terminal’s FM-200 fire suppression system. The reason for the activation of the fire suppression system is currently being investigated,” FAAN stated.
The authority said normal operations had resumed at the terminal while investigations were ongoing to determine the cause of the incident.
“Normal operations have since resumed at the terminal, while detailed investigations are ongoing to determine the exact cause of the incident,” the statement added.
The authority thanked passengers, airlines, airport users and other stakeholders for their understanding and cooperation.
FAAN appreciated the understanding and cooperation of passengers, airlines, airport users and all stakeholders, and reiterated its commitment to the safety and security of all airport operations.