The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives and governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in Imo State, Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, has enjoined the people of Imo State to use the season of Christmas to show brotherly love to one another and reach out to the needy and less privileged in society.
In a message to mark the 2014 Christmas celebration, Ihedioha thanked God Almighty for protection and divine mercies that have kept everyone going “in spite of the challenges, trials and vicissitudes of the outgoing year 2014”, saying that the joy of the season offers “hope and inspiration for a better tomorrow”.
He called on Christians to imbibe the spirit of Christianity as embodied in the life and times of Jesus Christ while he was on his earthly journey.
According to him: “Christmas as we know is the commemoration of the birth of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, the purveyor and embodiment of our salvation and the ultimate testimony of our Christian faith. It is at once both a time of celebration and sober reflection.
“It is a celebration of the redemption of our souls by virtue of the inscrutable happenstance of the birth of divinity by a human vessel. And it is also a call to sober reflection because of the solemnity it presents us to reflect on our lives as Christians and reassure ourselves of the redemptive power of our faith. As Christians, this is indeed the ultimate meaning of Christmas.”
The PDP governorship candidate further said: “Christmas is a clarion call to do good, show brotherly love to one another and spread the message of hope through exchange of goodwill and offertory of alms and charity to the less privileged among us. I enjoin us all as good Christians not to allow this very important requirement of Christmas to get lost in indulgent celebrations as the ultimate joy of the season is to see faces of those around us light up in smiles.”
This Ihedioha said is the best way to project the message of Christmas and Christianity and urged Christians to extend hands of fellowship to family members, neighbours and friends irrespective of their faith and beliefs.
He added: “In this way, we can achieve our collective desire to create and sustain a harmonious society that will promote the interest of all for all.
“The future is bright given the potentials both human and material that God in his infinite mercies have blessed us with. Let us not faint and become wary in the march towards achieving the society of our dreams; the Imo State of our aspiration; and the country of our pride. Imo State will be great again. With you and I joining hands together.”