Nigeria Content Online

Acting President,
Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, has urged Nigerians to serve God and humanity
selflessly, while promoting unity and peace across the country.

In his goodwill
message to the nation at Easter, Mr Jonathan asked Nigerians to pursue
reconciliation and forgiveness, put the past behind them and forge
ahead towards a bright new dawn.

“We must dedicate
ourselves to the service of our country, continuing in love for one
another even as Christ loved us. We must resolve to do what is right at
all times, and uphold the virtues that strengthen our bond as a nation”.

He therefore urged
Nigerians to use the period for spiritual rejuvenation, and rededicate
themselves to the service of God and humanity.

The president of
the Senate, David Mark, on Thursday urged Nigerians not to allow recent
challenges to shake their faith and loyalty to the country.

Rather than lose
faith, Mr. Mark said, Nigerians should renew their faith in one
indivisible and indissoluble corporate existence of Nigeria and work
towards making the country a great place.

In a goodwill
message to Nigerians to mark this year’s Easter celebration, Mr. Mark
said the challenges facing the nation especially the outbreak of
fresh ethno-religious conflicts in some parts of Nigeria were
surmountable. He expressed optimism that Nigerians can always overcome
any challenge and resolve their differences amicably.

“All we need is
sincerity of purpose and commitment to brotherhood,” Mr. Mark said,
reiterating the need for religious leaders to preach tolerance, love,
piety and peaceful co-existence as an antidote to the incessant crises.

Actualising its
mandate He said the National Assembly will be alive to its
constitutional duties by laying a solid framework for the government to
actualise its mandate to the people.

“The passage of the
amendment of the 1999 Constitution and the electoral reform bill are
clear manifestations that the Senate is making progress in the interest
of the nation,” he said. “We are very confident that the forthcoming
general elections in 2011 would benefit from the constitution amendment
and the electoral reform bill so that those encumbrances that
bedevilled the system in the past would not resurface.” Play by the
rules Mr. Mark also advised had some advice for politicians. “It is
only then that all parties would feel assured and comfortable with the
outcome of elections,” he said. ““It is when we all operate within the
ambits of the law that our democracy will be strengthened where human
rights and sustainable development would be guaranteed.” The Senate
president expressed the confidence that the present leadership at the
executive and legislative arms of government have demonstrated
political will and readiness to get it right this time and urged the
citizenry to demonstrate loyalty and cooperation with the government in
the task ahead.

“Nobody will come from the space to develop our country for us,” he said.