Labour Party stalwart and frontline Governorship hopeful in Anambra State, Valentine Ozigbo, on Saturday sent his Easter message to Ndi Anambra across Nigeria and other nations of the world urging them to remain steadfast and imbibe the teachings of Jesus Christ while learning the lessons that Easter embodies, which are love and selfless sacrifice for one another.
Stating that “this is a glorious season that reminds us of Christ’s love for us all,” Ozigbo noted that they should use the day and season to reflect on how best to discharge their primary responsibilities as citizens.
The Labour Party stalwart said that Jesus Christ’s triumph over death which redeemed us back to God, urging Ndi Anambra to use the resurrection of Jesus Christ to restore ourselves back to God through the God’s free gift of salvation to man and woman, thereby “renewing our hope in the resurrected Christ.”
In the Easter message he personally signed, Ozigbo states that as part of the process of effectively holding government and leaders accountable, Ndi Anambra should also interrogate how leaders “use public resources and the quality of services and infrastructure.”
The full statement tiled ‘Happy Easter to Ndi Anambra,’ reads: “It is with joy that I send you my sincere greetings and blessings as we celebrate this year’s Easter, a day that commemorates the resurrection, from the dead, of our Lord Jesus Christ.
“It is a day we celebrate the most important gift of God which He bestowed on us through the death, burial, and resurrection of His Son, Jesus Christ. This symbolizes our Father’s ultimate sacrifice for us by sending his one and only begotten son, to die for the atonement of our sins.
“This day marks our Saviour Jesus Christ’s triumph over death, redeeming us back to God, thus mending the broken relationship between mankind and God following the great fall of man in the Garden of Eden. Now, we are restored back to God with the free gift of salvation, bringing us this season of renewing our hope in the resurrected Christ.
“Indeed, Apostle John captures the essence of this day in God’s plan of redemption for mankind in John 3:16 which states: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
“John 15 verse 13 says: “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”
“This indeed is another opportunity for us to look up to God more than ever, embracing Him through prayer, honouring Him by living in love, mercy and faithfulness, and resolving to rejoice in Him while rekindling our courage to live and contribute to the growth of our families and communities with faith.
“For us Ndi Anambra across Nigeria and other nations of the world, I congratulate you on this year’s Easter. I also enjoin you to imbibe the teachings of Jesus Christ and learn the lessons that Easter embodies – love and selfless sacrifice for one another. After all, this is a glorious season that reminds us of Christ’s love for us all.
“We should also remember that this is season that demands for men and women of goodwill, people with integrity of their words and actions, people that would exhibit their humane and sacrificial behaviour in all they do, especially those holding positions of trust on behalf of all of us.
“Therefore, our leaders must realize that leadership demands sacrifices as epitomized in the life of Jesus Christ who said in Mark 10:45: “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve and to give His life as ransom for many.” Being bestowed with leadership is a sacred responsibility that must show the humility as exemplified by Jesus Christ Himself who made sacrifices by laying down His life for us all.
“As this Easter came in this gloomy economic environment, I call on Ndi Anambra, and indeed all Nigerians to remain steadfast, and to use this day and season to reflect on how best to discharge our primary responsibilities as citizens, which is to effectively hold our government and leaders accountable.
“This entails demanding qualitative good governance from our leaders, in fulfilment of Section 24 of the 1999 Constitution which requires that citizens insisting that leaders abide by dictates of the constitution and be accountable. Part of this duty is to ensure that our leaders are held accountable for how they use public resources and the quality of services and infrastructure they are providing. It is part of our duties as citizens to ensure that our leaders’ delivery must match their rhetoric.
“I pray for the peace and prosperity of Ndi Anambra, that this Easter brings us hope, joy, peace as we commemorate God’s marvellous gift bestowed on us through His son Jesus Christ, our eternal hope and Prince of Peace.
“Have a blessed and Happy Easter Celebration!
“God bless Ndi Anambra
“God bless Nigeria.”