-By Albert OGRAKA:

The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC), Bashorun Askia Ogieh (JP), has encouraged Nigerians to embrace love, forgive one another, eschew anger, bitterness, hate, strife and conflict in all situations.

The Udu of Isoko Nation enjoined all to “look beyond the difficulties of the present times and look to the future with hope as we all unite in love to work out the salvation of our nation.”

The Managing Director, DESOPADEC emphasized that “The example laid down by Christ is easy to follow when we internalise the Golden Rule which is simply to love God and to love our neighbour as ourselves.”

The Christmas message reads:

“I wish all Deltans, and Nigerians in general, a very merry Christmas. 

“While we all celebrate the anniversary of the birth of Jesus Christ, our Saviour, we should call to mind that He personifies love and is symbolised as a Lamb which depicts meekness and humility.

“Those attributes speak to all believers to be ready to yield ground for the good of others, to share with our brothers and sisters, to forgive one another, to eschew anger, bitterness, hate, strife and conflict in all situations.

“The example laid down by Christ is easy to follow when we internalise the Golden Rule which is simply to love God and to love our neighbour as ourselves.

“This should apply in the family, community, workplace, open society and even in politics.

St James makes it easier for us to achieve when he pointed out that no worries should turn us away from the love of Christ.

“Let us therefore look beyond the difficulties of the present times and look to the future with hope as we all unite in love to work out the salvation of our nation.

“Merry Christmas.”