The Ojokoro chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria in Ojokoro Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Lagos State, has called on both the federal and state governments to distribute relief packages during the festive season, taking into account the prevailing hardships in the country.
The CAN made the appeal during its Christmas Carol service at St. Christopher Catholic Church, themed “Wonderful Councillor,” with the text drawn from Isaiah 9:6 to commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ.
The chairman of CAN Ojokoro chapter, Pastor. Dr. C.G Coker said: “We appeal to the government and officials in the government to release relief packages to christians for people to have what to celebrate Christmas with, because so many people are suffering and not many have what to eat, so the government should use Christmas as an avenue to share relief packages.”
In an interview, the chairman of Ojokoro L.C.D.A, Hamed Idowu Tijani (HID), urged christians and Nigerians to be of good conduct during and after the yuletide,
He said: “This is another year, I give glory to God Almighty who has made it possible for us to witness another one, as we all know this is a season that we celebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to me I call this period a period of reflection, we need to reflect on our lives, who is Jesus Christ, why was he born, and having discovered that this person was born just because of our sake, for him to have carried our sins away, so this is a period that we need to be more dedicated to the life of others, because if God has given us his own child to take our iniquities away, so this is a period to have reflection of what we are using our lives for, this is a period that we should dedicate more to humanity.”
Speaking on relief packages from the government, Tijani said it has been a sole responsibility of his administration to see to the welfare of the people regardless of the religion.
He said he doesn’t wait for Christmas or festive season before he gives out to people, saying that as it is his usual practice, he will see to it.
He stated: “The Administration we are talking about headed by my very self, we see the plight of our people as one of the cardinal point and when we are talking of the relief materials, it doesn’t have anything to with Christian, Muslim or others, the government is in interest of those that we govern so there’s no time that even at a period like this that we will not give put to the people, I don’t want to call it relief packages but giving out to the people in our local government and the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) is not left behind, this is not our first time of doing it and we are going to do it better this time by the grace of God.”
In his comments, the chairman carol organising committee who is also the Chairman Organised African Instituted Churches (OAIC) CAN Ojokoro Chapter, Gen. Sup. Ap. Atobatele Wonderful, said Christmas is a period of celebration to celebrate the birth of our Lord, adding “and that is what we have come to do today, to celebrate Jesus who is the reason for the season.”
He also enjoined Christians to behave like Christ and share what they have with one another in this Christmas season.
He noted that anyone who has enough should share with someone who has none.
He stated: “We all that the country is passing through hardship now, but i urged us all as Christians to celebrate Christmas with love, celebrate with what you have, give unto others when you can and let’s continue to leave in harmony, God bless us all.”
