Christmas: Alaafin Tells Christians To Appreciate God, Love Neighbours

The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Akeem Owoade I, has charged Christians to celebrate Christmas as a day to appreciate God’s love for mankind, a season to show goodwill to neighbours, and a time of divine expectation from the Lord.

Oba Owoade stated that these would transform the country, heal relationships, and give the nation the polity of the people’s dreams.

“If we love with the spirit of Christmas in our hearts, governance would work, electoral reforms would be easier to accomplish, funds would be judiciously utilised for the good of the larger number, while the leadership would love and cherish the led. That is the essence of Christmas, which we commend to all Nigerians, indeed, to all humanity, at this time,” the Alaafin said.

Oba Owoade gave the admonition in his Christmas and New Year message issued by his Director of Media and Publicity, Bode Durojaiye, which was made available to LEADERSHIP on Wednesday.

He reminded that, “It was love that took Jesus to the cross. If His heart was not welling and overflowing with love, He could not have offered Himself as a sacrifice”.

At this time in our country, the monarch called on all Nigerians to embrace the same love that considers others first, prefers others above personal and selfish desires and love that seeks to emancipate, unshackle and liberate.

“Love, sincerity of purpose, sense of commitment and patriotism will take us above internecine killings, agitations, and other divisive tendencies. Let every Christian imbibe all these, and let them inspire non-Christians with their genuine display of the attribute,” Oba Owoade charged.

According to the Alaafin, the positive development in good governance and accountability being witnessed presently in Nigeria is serving as a beacon of hope for the citizenry, “despite moves by some saboteurs to discredit President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led administration.”

He said that until recently, the lack of transparency, probity, and accountability in Nigeria translated into a pandemic that created an absence of effective leadership.

Oba Owoade assured that Nigeria will witness good and accountable leadership under the Tinubu-led administration.

“The track record of President Tinubu and his unassailable commitment to democratic processes since constitutional governance in Nigeria in 1999 gives hope that under his leadership, Nigeria will once more instil the values of good and accountable governance in the country”.

While praying God to guide and guard Tinubu and all Nigerians, Oba Owoade expressed optimism “that the integrity and honesty, as well as a never-give-up attitude of the President to a positive cause, would prevail throughout his term in office”.