Yuletide: APC urges adherence to COVID-19 protocols

Reinforce Your Resolve For National Rebirth, PDP Urges Nigerians
The All Progressives Congress (APC) joins Christians and indeed, all Nigerians in marking the joyful occasion of Christmas, which celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ. 

APC in a statement by its caretaker committee secretary, Sen. John Akpanudoedehe particularly enjoined Nigerians to take precautionary measures against the COVID-19 pandemic during the Yuletide.

“As we visit and celebrate with family, friends and loved ones, the APC urges all to be mindful of the COVID-19 global pandemic, particularly the recent wave of the Omicron variant. We encourage citizens to take the widely available vaccines and adhere to public health protocols in order to halt the spread of the virus,” it noted. 

The party urged Nigerians to use the joyful season to give and show of love to fellow men, particularly the needy and vulnerable in the society. 

The Party urges prayers and support for security personnel and other essential services massively deployed around the country to ensure safe travel and yuletide festivities. 

It further assured citizens of President Muhammadu Buhari government’s capacity, intent and urgency to check and contain all criminalities so that Nigerians can go about their legitimate activities across the country safely. 

On the 2021 Electoral Act Amendment Bill, it noted: “For us in the APC, we remain solidly-committed and support constitutionally-permitted as well as practical innovations and processes that will improve the transparency and credibility of Nigeria’s electioneering processes and internal democracy, specifically the nomination of political party candidates.” 

The party also expressed optimism that the recently launched National Development Plan (NDP) for 2021 to 2025 will further spur Nigeria to achieve robust development through the use of science, technology and innovation to drive growth. 

It contended that the plan will consolidate on the implementation of ongoing major infrastructure and other development projects across the country and open up economic opportunities for Nigerians. 

In another development, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) called on Nigerians to use the occasion of this year’s Christmas to further unite, show love to one another and reinforce their determination for a national rebirth.

In a statement by its national publicity secretary, Debo Ologunagba, PDP is deeply worried that in the last six years, Nigerians have been forced to mark Christmas in gloom, pain, anguish and utter despondency following excruciating economic hardship and worsened insecurity.

According to the opposition party, all these are the result of having an incompetent and insensitive administration in office.

The party said, “While people celebrate in other parts of the world, many Nigerian families could not afford the basic items of celebrations or even travel, as they do in the past, to meet and bond with their loved ones due to high costs, worsened insecurity and deplorable state of roads which are now death traps in our country under the APC administration.”

However, the PDP urged Nigerians not to allow the suffering they face to dampen or destroy their inner personalities as happy people and make them lose sight of the message of hope, salvation and brighter future, which Christmas offers.

“We must, therefore, rekindle the light of celebration by showing love and care for one another especially the less privileged, the sick, the hurting as well as victims of mindless violence and acts of terrorism that have ravaged various parts of our country especially in the last six years under the watch of the APC government,” it added.