Alliance for Democracy (AD) gubernatorial candidate for Oyo State in the 2019 general elections, Mr. Hakeem Oyedele Alao has charged Nigerians to fervently pray for the country during this Yuletide, bearing in mind that another election year is around the corner.
This was contained in the Christmas Message personally signed by the politician and made available to journalists in Ibadan on Sunday.
Reminding Nigerians the significance of Christmas celebration as the symbolic demonstration of God’s love for mankind through the release of His only begotten son, Jesus Christ for the remission of humans’ transgressions and the birthday of whom is being celebrated, he said the highest gift Nigerians could give to the country is undying love.
Mr. Alao maintained that with deep love for the country, it would not be difficult for the people to pray seriously, especially concernig next year’s general elections, saying, “by next year, the current democratic experience would be 20 years and unless we want to deceive ourselves, we have not gotten it right.
“It is very sad that nothing has really changed in our democratic practice in our almost two decades of unbroken experience and if anything has changed at all, it has been for the worse. Any change in every indices of measuring democratic success has been in the negative and this is why we need prayers towards getting it right come 2019”, he stated.
The AD standard-bearer recalled that if the creator of heaven and earth could and still be so compassionate on mankind as to offer His only son for redemption of man’s sins, nothing should be too much for Nigerians to do for the betterment of the society.
Preaching love, he said the only fundamental difference between Nigerians and other citizens of other countries where things work almost perfectly well “is the love citizens of other countries have for their fellow beings which is what is missing among our people here.
“Nigeria too can be great and even greater than some of the countries our people now run to as refugees if only those privileged to be blessed show love and concern for others. With love and concern for others, it won’t be possible for individuals to blindly steal from the nation’s tilt or kill fellow being in the name of politics”, the AD gubernatorial candidate noted.
Felicitating with Christians in the state and the country at large, Alao said, “as our co-compatriots join their counterparts across the globe to celebrate this year’s Christmas, I enjoin all to be peaceful and reflect on the birth of Jesus Christ as well as the purpose for which He was sent to this world.
“Let’s celebrate the love of God for mankind, extend same to our neighbours as well as our dear nation by praying for our leaders and the success of our polls in February and March next year. Let’s also apply caution in all what we do during the course of celebration in order to ensure hitch-free activities as I wish all Merry Christmas and prosperous New Year in advance”, he charged further.
