Governor of Rivers State and Chairman of Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, has called on Nigerians to pray for the release of all the abducted schoolgirls in Borno State by suspected members of Boko Haram sect.
He made the call on the backdrop of the abduction of about 129 students of Government Girls’ Secondary School, Chibok, by unknown gunmen, even as 44 students had reportedly regained their freedom.
The governor, who made this call in his Easter message on Saturday, also called for prayers for the unity of the country.
In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Amaechi charged Nigerians to use the Easter period to embrace peace, love and harmony.
He stated that Nigeria was in need of sacrifice, forgiveness and love, adding that the country cannot achieve any meaningful development in an atmosphere of rancour.
Shedding more light on the significance of Easter, the governor said the period should be seen as one for sobre reflection, forgiveness and togetherness, stressing the need for Christians to emulate Christ
“Nigerians should pray for the release of the abducted school girls in Borno State by the Boko Haram Islamic sect. We should fervently pray for peace and unity in the country.
“Jesus Christ died, so that we could live. We must endeavor to emulate the selfless life and sacrifice of Christ. As we celebrate the resurrection of Christ, we must fully appreciate the significance of this very important event in the Christian calendar.
“Let me call on all Christian faithful to emulate Christ in all their dealings and also remember to love one another. We should realise the fact that we cannot achieve meaningful development in an atmosphere of rancour and acrimony”, he said.
On the 2015 general elections, Amaechi appealed to Nigerians to pray to God for a peaceful exercise, even as he specifically charged politicians to display decorum and tolerance ahead of the poll.
He said, “Let me also call on politicians in our dear country to recognize the fact that for our nascent democracy to survive we must abhor and avoid all practices that will impact negatively on the polity and begin to do things properly and justly, most especially as we approach the 2015 general elections”.
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