TheCable

Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, former minister of special duties and intergovernmental affairs, says Nigerians must rise above issues seeking to cause disunity.

He said this in his Christmas message to Nigerians, in a statement issued on Friday.

Turaki said Nigerians should take advantage of the Christmas season to influence the spirit of unity, and also advised against promoting divisive tendencies ahead of the 2023 elections.

“We can no longer continue to perpetuate the tradition of division and destruction of the spirit of mutual unity. Now is the time to come together,” he said.

“What better period do we have to admit that we are all interconnected and interdependent on each other than the Christmas season? We are made and meant to live together, prosper together, and be great together as one nation.

“As the 2023 polls beckon, we must understand that no matter what, we are defined as a people by our common identity as Nigerians. Our peace, our loyalties, our progress, and our rights must become nationalistic rather than sectional.

“We as a people must rise above the myopic clickbaits of malicious political sharks that seek to make these coming elections and the future of our nation about tribe, religion, and social class.

“We must embrace a nationalistic perspective and focus on all the issues that affect us all and come together to solve them so that we can move forward stronger and more prosperous.

“No man is an island; no single perspective, tribe or religion can fix this our great nation in isolation, and as long as we try, the more we will discover how easy peace and development is.”

The former minister also advised Christians to imbibe the virtues of Jesus Christ and contribute to the development of the country.

“For all my Christian brothers and sisters, the Christmas season signifies the birth of Christ the saviour, His love, sacrifice, and selfless service for the good of all mankind,” he added.

“Therefore, as we celebrate the birth of Christ and the new year, we should all reflect and be true to what He represents, embrace ourselves as one big family, and strive hard to contribute our quota of love, peace, selfless service and sacrifice to the mutual progress and development of our communities and great nation.”