As Christians in the country celebrate Easter festival, the Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Dr Kayode Fayemi, has called for greater love, unity, tolerance and peaceful co-existence among the citizens.
He said these were the hallmark of the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ and described these as panacea to nation’s challenges.
Fayemi, while congratulating Christians for the successful completion of the Lenthen season, a period of 40-day fasting and prayers, which climaxed in the Easter, urged them to always uphold the virtues of love and sacrifice as the hallmark of Easter celebration.
The minister in a goodwill message, signed by his Special Adviser on Media, Mr. Yinka Oyebode, urged them to use the Easter season for sober reflection and emulate the sacrificial nature of Jesus Christ who laid down his life for the salvation of mankind.
While urging them to celebrate with moderation, Fayemi also urged the people to spend quality time with family and friends, reflect on developments in the country and the world at large and pray for peace and progress.
“Aside taking time off to reflect and pray for peace and progress of the country, it is also a time to resolve within ourselves to become agents of peace and progress.”, the minister said.
He urged Christians and adherents of other religions to continue to preach and live in peace and harmony with one another. This he said would put the country on the path of peace.
“The teaching of being our brothers’ keeper is even more apt now. We should demonstrate it through conscious effort at living peaceably with one another regardless of religion or tribe.
“Nigeria needs a peaceful environment for development to thrive and when we pray for peace we should be prepared to work for peace, live peacefully and that can start now” the statement added.
The minister said such fundamental values would go a long way in promoting and strengthening the foundation of love, peace and harmony in the society.
“It is a season when we should pause and reflect on our individual and collective roles towards promoting and sustaining that foundation of love, peace and harmony”, he added.
