The Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, has urged Christians to sustain the hope that the birth of Christ signifies beyond the yuletide celebrations, saying the lessons must not die once the jingle bell is over.
In a goodwill message to Christians by his Media Office, on Saturday, in Abuja, Ngige described the remembrance of the birth of Jesus Christ as the most powerful message of hope, which brought liberation for mankind and urged Christians to find in it, a source of succour amidst socio-economic and security challenges facing the nation.
He said God works in a peculiar way that is beyond human comprehension, as exemplified in Christ, who was born a king, the Messiah, yet suffered death for the redemption of mankind.
“The message, therefore, is that we model our lives after Christ and not allow it to die immediately after the Christmas season is over. In other words, we must not succumb to the challenges of the day.
“Christians must not despair or resign to fate but be ever ready to work their way out of every tribulation, looking up to God for the seamless lead. The hope that Christmas delivers to our doorstep should help us uncover that the difficulties of the time should not form a distance between us and God.
Quoting Pope Francis in La Croix International, Ngige added, “God may not take away insecurity and unpredictability that breed fear and anxiety but shares our experience of them. He offers a promise that all will be well.”
Further reflecting on joy as cardinal to Christmas, Ngige said the present hardship in the country gives the President, Major Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), sleepless nights and assured that efforts are in top gear to lift the lots of the Nigerian workers and bring joy to them before transition to the next government.
He also urged Nigerian workers to pray for another President that will sustain the labour-friendly legacy of the Buhari administration.
Senator Ngige finally charged wealthy Christians to remember the poor while celebrating Christmas.
“Let’s not seek the infant Jesus only in the beautiful figures of the Christmas cribs, the twinkly lights and the gaudy decorations in our homes and streets. Let’s also seek the ‘word that was made flesh’ in the poor and deprived Nigerians who go to bed hungry.”
