FG declares Friday, Monday public holidays

• Clerics urge Christians to abhor social vices
• Charge govt to end economic crisis

The Federal Government has declared tomorrow, April 14 and Monday, April 17, 2017 as public holidays to mark this year’s Good Friday and Easter celebrations.

The Minister of Interior, Lt.-Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau (rtd), who made the declaration on behalf of the Federal Government, enjoined Christian faithful and Nigerians in general to extend the spiritual benefits of Easter, which are love, peace, justice, sacrifice and kindness to their daily living, and through this contribute to unity and peaceful co-existence among Nigerians.

In a statement yesterday, Dambazau further urged Nigerians to co-operate and join hands with President Muhammadu Buhari in his sustained efforts to build a strong and virile nation.

Besides, the Catholic Archbishop of Owerri Ecclesiastic Province, Dr. Anthony J. V. Obinna, has urged Christians to eschew all forms of sexual vices, worship of gods, drunkenness, among others.

Obinna, who stated this yesterday while delivering his Easter message in his office at Assumpta Cathedral, Owerri, capital of Imo State, advised that people should live beyond deadly bondages.

Also, the Catholic Archbishop of Lagos, Rev. Alfred Adewale Martins, has charged the Federal Government to intensify its effort in proffering solutions to the economic crisis in the country to alleviate the suffering of the masses.

In the same vein, the Catholic Archbishop of Jos, Most Revd. Ignatius Kaigama, has said that Nigeria’s development is hinged on the willingness of the people to abandon mediocrity and embrace meritocracy.