Jonathan, Buhari, at Lent, urge unity, prayers for successful polls

AS Nigerian Christians joined their counterparts across the world in commencing Lenten season Wednesday, President Goodluck Jonathan has enjoined them to pray fervently for a successful conduct of next month’s elections.

  Also, the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Maj -Gen Muhammadu Buhari, Wednesday urged Nigerians to put aside their ethnic, religious, gender and political biases and work for a united, peaceful and progressive Nigeria.

  While felicitating with all Christians in the country for the exercise, Jonathan, in a statement by his spokesman, Reuben Abati, said that the observance of Lent for 2015 should serve a spiritual renewal.

 “As they undergo the rites of the 40-day Lenten season which runs from today, Ash Wednesday, to Easter Sunday, with constant prayers, penitence, fasting and self-denial, President Jonathan urges Christians in Nigeria to pray fervently for peaceful, violence-free and successful general elections in the country on March 28 and April 11, 2015.

  “The President also seizes the opportunity of the commencement of Lent to call on all political leaders in the country, Christians and non-Christians alike, to rededicate themselves to the commitment they have made to peaceful, non-violent campaigns and elections, and do their utmost best to ensure that their supporters across the country uphold that commitment.

  “In the spirit of that commitment, President Jonathan further urges all those seeking political office in the coming elections to eschew hate speech, incitement to violence, divisiveness and the malicious denigration of opponents.

 In his Lenten message to Nigerian Christians, Buhari particularly called on Nigerians to use this season of penance to reflect, meditate and pray to God for peace and the rebuilding of our nation.

He congratulated Nigerian Christians who joined their counterparts worldwide in observing the annual period of repentance, sacrifice, fasting, prayers and almsgiving for the forgiveness of sins and spiritual revival.

 “My dear brothers and sisters, as we pray daily for mercy from God, let these 40 days be for us, a greater opportunity to change our ways and our hearts so that God can heal our land; which is in dire need of leaders and citizens who will show love and care for the poor and the rejected in our midst, for whom, Jesus Christ also sacrificed and died for.

  “Let us abhor discriminations in our country on the grounds of ethnicity, religion, gender and political orientation.