President Muhammadu Buhari has told all Nigerians to remain hopeful despite the current socio-economic and security challenges confronting the country.
President Buhari made the call on Thursday in his 2015 Christmas Message to Nigerians.
Buhari, in the message he personally signed, felicitated with all Nigerians, especially the Christian faithful, on the "joyous occasion" of this year’s Christmas.
"Let us also not allow current socio-economic and security challenges to dampen our expectations for a better Nigeria", the president said.
He said while his government had taken a number of measures to restore hope to the citizens; the 2016 budget defined his commitment to giving Nigeria a new lease of life.
The president also said that his administration's "change slogan is not a campaign gimmick but a promise that must be kept".
Buhari emphasised that his government was determined to bring about tangible changes in the lives of Nigerians.
He said in this regard, efforts would be intensified to recover stolen funds, block revenue leakages and enthrone due process, transparency and accountability.
According to the president, public office is a public trust that must be held to the highest ethical standards.
He urged all Nigerians to re-dedicate themselves to the virtues of peace, love, honesty, justice, equity, piety, humility and service to others which Jesus Christ taught.
"There can be no doubt that a greater manifestation of these virtues and ideals in our lives will immensely help us to become a more united, peaceful, secure and progressive nation", Buhari said.
The president also asked Nigerians to reach out in love and compassion to fellow citizens in distress at this period of the nation’s history.
He specifically urged all Nigerians to remember victims of terrorism and insurgency in the country, especially Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).
He said the Federal Government would continue to collaborate with state governments and other stakeholders to ease the harsh conditions in IDP camps, "while the ultimate objective remains to quickly put an end to insurgency and return the IDPs to their homes".
Buhari also stated that "We must never again allow any group to hold the nation to ransom under whatever guise".
While wishing all Nigerians a Merry Christmas, the president also appealed to them thus: "Please drive carefully".
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday interrogated former Governor of Akwa Ibom State Godswill Akpabio over allegation of financial crimes. Daily Trust gathered that Akpabio honoured the invitation by the anti-graft agency to explain allegations of looting of the state’s funds during his tenure. Sources told our correspondent that Senator Akpabio was being interrogated late yesterday evening at the Abuja head offices of the Commission. He was spotted at the EFFC office in company of a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Rickey Tarfa, at about 5:20pm. Akpabio’s arrest yesterday is fallout of the petition by an Abuja-based lawyer and activist, Leo Ekpenyong, who had on June 8 this year petitioned President Muhammadu Buhari and the EFCC, calling for Senator Akpabio’s probe and accusing him of looting. The petitioner had earlier on Wednesday adopted his petition and provided more details to the anti-graft agency on the allegations against the minority leader of People...
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