The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has appealed to all Nigerians to use
the end of year festivities and the occasion of this year’s Christmas
celebrations to remember victims of insurgency in the country, share in
their grief as well as bring succor to the survivors and families of the
deceased.
The party, in a message signed by the National Publicity Secretary,
Olisa Metuh on Wednesday, specifically implored Nigerians to extend this
gesture to the families of dead as well as wounded officers and men of
the Nigerian security forces.
Elaborating on the choice of its theme for this year’s Christmas, the
PDP said its place as the only truly national political party which is
in custody of the popular mandate of Nigerians, demands that it aligns
always with the dominant mood of the people at all times.
“As we celebrate Christmas, we deem it very necessary that Nigerians
share their happiness with compatriots who have lost their bread
winners, sons, daughters, fathers and mothers, husbands and wives to
insurgency. It deserves every thought that those who paid the price and
those in the battlefield to keep us safe be remembered.
“This Christmas therefore must be devoted to restoring joy to homes in
grief. As the birth of Christ brought hope and fulfillment to mankind,
the PDP beseeched Nigerians to rally to the consolation of the families
of the wounded and dead”.
“In this regard we direct our members to look around their neighborhood
for these families and extend goodwill to them, visit and cheer them up
even as we urge other Nigerians to do same”, the statement said.
The PDP also said this year’s Christmas, which comes at the eve of the
2015 general elections has abundant lessons for the citizenry.
“We are at the eve of another general elections, the denouement of the
imperatives of democracy, which the founding fathers of the PDP
gallantly fought for. The February 2015 general elections must also
bring joy and not fear and agony to our people.
“Those who may be eying violence as a vehicle to achieve what the wishes
of the people may deny them at the polls must have a rethink. Therefore,
all Nigerians must support President Goodluck Jonathan on his resolve
for peaceful conduct of the 2015 general elections.”
The party wished Nigerians happy Christmas and end of the celebrations.