The Catholic Bishop of Nnewi Diocese, Rev Hilary Odilichukwu Okeke has admonished Christians all over the country to share, care and be merry at the yuletide, but endeavour to remember the reason for the season.
The cleric who warned against what he described as “microwave Christianity” that harps on prosperity, harvest of quick-fix miracles and the good things of life, noted that such bare-faced deceit and abuse of the faith cheapens Christianity as “it breeds charlatans that dupe and exploit the people, with their fast food microwave Christianity…” He acknowledged reality of miracles (Matt 24v24) but disagreed with the advertisement of selves by some pastors/reverends for the sake of the ‘miracles and America-wonder’.
While wishing Nigerians a happy celebration, Bishop Okeke urge all to embrace the message of the authentic spirit of Christmas and Christianity. He also wants Nigerians to abandon attitude that promotes results without commensurate efforts.
In the same vein, Senators Ben Ndi Obi, Annie Okonkwo and Chris Ngige have in their various messages to the people prayed for a blissfull yuletide.
Obi wants Nigerians to use the occasion for a sober reflection on the year 2012 and brace up for a better national life and citizenship in the coming 2013.
Ngige who used the period to commission some of his completed constituency projects at Nise and also commence opening of his constituency offices in the seven Local government areas of Idemili North, South, Awka North, South, Njikoka, Dunukofia and Anaocha appealed to the people to use the Christmas period for sharing, caring, visiting one another and love. He distributed about ten vehicles, rice, tomato and vegetable oil to some of his party members, thanking them for their unflinching support.
Senator Okonkwo who has been working behind the scene for the cohesion, articulated infrastructural and political development of the South East geo-political, also wants the zone to take its pride of place in the national affairs.
He appealed to Nigerians to have a change of heart in accommodating one another as members of one family called Nigeria.
In particular, he called on the South Easterners to stand up to be counted among patriotic Nigerians always, as it was in the past.
