Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu on Ssturday said the year 2024 would be glorious for Nigerians.
This is as the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has told the federal government that Nigerians want concrete actions to reduce the nationwide hardship and not handouts.
The union called on the government to create effective platforms to enable the people to unleash their robust energies for wealth creation, stressing that impoverishing the people insults their sensibilities.
Meanwhile, the first lady made the declaration at the State House in her Christmas message after she held an elaborate Christmas party for the children of Nana Berry Orphanage, Abuja.
She also advised parents to continue to give hope to their wards, saying “As we go into the year 2024, our message should be how to transform the lives of the young ones.
“Whoever we are, we should stop talking about poverty in front of our children, we are not a poor nation, the wealthy ones should also take care of the poor ones and make them wealthy, that is all it takes.
“We have taken the issue of poverty out of contest and it is really polluting the hearts of the young ones, but we have to give them hope and show them a positive attitude.
“We are entering a glorious year and those who believe that it is going to be glorious will enjoy it,’’ she said.
The first lady, during the party, told the children a bible story and advised parents to also imbibe the habit of teaching their wards good morals for them to become great adults.
“Parents are supposed to tell the children Christmas stories, that is what we all grow up with, for this year’s Christmas, we have decided to change the trajectory of what Christmas represents in the State House.
“For us in this dispensation, I think we have to adopt a home per year, next year, another orphanage home would come so that the children can have a sense of well-being and also to give them a sense of belonging.
“They are all Nigerians, as you can see, they all have dreams like every one of us, bringing them here is for them to know that nothing is impossible, they too can become the person whom God will put in place of power like this.’’
She advised parents to also start training their children in the ways of the Lord because children learn very quickly; one of the things that has given me drive while growing up even from a humble beginning is what I have seen.
“This year’s Christmas celebration is also to remind them about the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ, and how the love of Christ has made him lay down his life for mankind.
“Also, that is what we have to do as a nation, to continue to make the necessary sacrifice for a lot of people to benefit, it is not about us but for the generation that is coming after us.
“We have to give them a good foundation because we believe that their lives will be better than ours.’’
NLC Wants Concrete Measures to Reduce Hardship, Not Handouts
Meanwhile, in NLC’s Christmas message titled: ‘At Christmas: May Our Hope Be in Christ’, its President, Joe Ajaero, called on President Bola Tinubu and other political leaders in the country to use the festive period to seek creative measures to lift Nigerians out of the present humongous suffering and hardship.
Ajaero said: “Despite the difficulties that many of us have faced and continue to endure, let us remember the essence of Christmas – a time of reflection, gratitude, and the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. His teachings emphasise love, compassion, and the enduring power of hope even in the face of adversity.”
He said just as Jesus Christ served his followers selflessly leaders at all levels should emulate this and serve Nigerians selflessly.
“We must do everything to love ourselves as workers and as a people. It is only in dwelling in unity that we can build the needed strength for a better nation.
“However, one of the best ways to demonstrate love is to have an understanding that we are one. We are workers and we are the masses. We are bound together by oppression, fear, deprivation, misery, poverty and helplessness.
“This perception will become so powerful that it moulds and builds us into a powerful force that cannot be broken which can then be used to create liberty and free ourselves from the shackles of the forces of retrogression.”
Ajaero said that it is only in dwelling in unity that Nigerians can build the needed strength for a better nation, adding that such disunity has allowed unpatriotic elements to hijack the governance which they have continually used to negate the interests and desires of the masses.
“We must, therefore, not allow ourselves to be divided along any lines at all be it ethnic, religion or communal lines. This season must teach us that we are one!”
“That is why in the spirit of Christmas, let us come together as a nation, transcending our differences, to spread love and goodwill. It is in these moments of unity that we find the strength to overcome challenges and build a brighter future for ourselves and generations to come. “Nations are built when the people decide to stand together and work in unity and love. It is difficult to build the kind of nation we want if we continue seeing ourselves as different in any way or form.
“This is what has allowed unpatriotic elements to hijack our levers of governance which they have continually used to negate the interests and desires of our people and our nation.
“This season must lead us to resolve to build a new nation by mending every crack that has allowed the enemies of the people to take undue advantage of us and hold down the nation perpetually in the morass of underdevelopment.
While emphasising the need for unity amongst Nigerians, Ajaero said that one of the best ways to demonstrate love is to have an understanding that Nigerians are one.
“As we gather with family and friends to celebrate, may the mind of Jesus Christ guide our thoughts and actions. Let His teachings inspire us to be kinder, and more compassionate, and to extend a helping hand to those in need.
“Christmas is not only a time for festive joy but also an opportunity to reflect on our blessings and share them with others. We cannot love others if we do not love our nation. The love of the nation must be tied to loving others and ourselves. If we love our nation, we must then be led by those principles upon which great nations are built.
“To those who have faced hardships this year, we offer a message of hope. Remember that even in the darkest hours, there is a glimmer of light. Together, we can overcome challenges and build a more resilient and compassionate society. Let hope be the beacon that guides us into a brighter and more promising future.
“We urge those in government to also allow the spirit of Christmas to lead them in all their policies and actions. Jesus served his followers selflessly and we hope that our leaders at all levels will emulate this and serve Nigerians selflessly.
“Instead of heaping a heavy burden on the people, it is important that they seek creative measures that will lift the present humongous suffering from our shoulders. Instead of handouts, Nigerians expect concrete actions with solid results.
“Nigerians should be allowed to win by the teachings of Christ because it is the essence of leadership. It is only by allowing transparency and good conscience in governance that effective results can be delivered to the people.
“Beggaring the people insults their sensibilities but creating effective platforms to enable the people to unleash their robust energies for wealth creation is what the people are asking for and this to our minds is not rocket science.
“Our leaders should therefore seek to put a smile on our faces and pursue things that offer hope to the people and not policies that demoralise and eviscerate.”
Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja
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