As Christians all over the world commemorate the feast of Easter, the National President of the Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Iju Tony Nwabunike has called on Christians and indeed, all Nigerians to imbibe the culture of a peaceful coexistence as exemplified by Christ who is the prince of peace.
Nwabunike who made this call I’m his Easter message, observed that apart from being symbolic in many ways, Easter celebration also signified a lot for mankind in different spheres – peace, sacrifice, loyalty, politics, economy and social areas.
He maintained that potentials of a peaceful Nigeria were limitless adding that whenever or wherever peace was lost, the results included instability and lack of a cohesive direction.
He admonished Nigerians not to allow the sacrifice of Jesus Christ to redeem mankind, his loyalty to the cause for which he was sent, his example to mankind to pay their taxes (giving to Caesar what belongs Caesar) and the fellowship with others through the last supper to be lost on them as they celebrate.
According to him, “He also promoted peace when he stopped Peter from trying to resist his arrest and miraculously reinstated a chopped off ear during the period. This was good example of peace, love and tolerance.”
While urging Nigerians not to get tired of praying for Nigeria, especially in the area of security and pray fervently for the release of fellow countrymen and women being held by terrorists, he said, “The ill fated Kaduna bound train that was attacked recently did come as one attack too many on our developing transport infrastructure and threatened the growing hope we have in moving cargoes from seaports to the hinterland.
“It could have been anyone else because we are not more safety or security conscious than the victims who boarded a Federal Government train with assurances of security.This occurrence also sets back the anticipated seamlessness that cargoes ought to have moved from Lagos and Port-Harcourt to Kano and Kaduna States.
“Insecurity in Nigeria touches everyone in adverse ways, we can’t pretend about it. It has driven the cost of doing business higher, increased time spent, reduced returns on investments and affected the joy of many.
“Our ports are not properly utilised if import and export cargoes suffer clogs in the logistics chain. From the farmer of export produce ,whose field is occupied by terrorists to the dockworkers waiting to assist in the loading and unloading of cargoes, we are all involved.
“Our collective interest is in the cargo because from it government revenue is gotten, remuneration for employees made, service charges collected and profit from warehousing and sales are obtained.
“With these in mind, I call on the government, especially politicians at the helm of affairs, not to be subsumed by the hysteria of present campaigns and forget that some citizens are away with kidnappers this Easter season.”
The ANLCA helmsman further called on Nigerians to supplicate for victory from God in favour of the armed forces who stayed awake and alert at all times to keep the country safe saying, “Their victory is our safety.”
He continued, “We are entitled to being happy because we are part of a blessed country whose true potentials are yet to be fully harnessed for collective benefits.
“While we (Christians) are rounding off our fasting, our Muslim brethren are continuing with the prayer chain. Let’s hold on to the lessons from Christ this season and always.
“Sacrifice and self denial, loyalty to the state, performing our civic responsibilities, loving ourselves, socializing with decency and looking up to God always should be paramount.
“I am optimistic of being part of a united, peaceful, economically viable and very progressive Nigeria. Let’s aim at these with the fear of God. If we fear God, we will love fellow men and women and society will be better for it.”
Photo: Iju Tony Nwabunike, National President, ANLCA.
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