JUST IN: President Jonathan’s Christmas Message To the Nation

Dear Compatriots, I greet and felicitate with you all as we celebrate
Christmas once again. I join our Christian compatriots and all other Nigerians in
giving thanks to God Almighty whose Grace and Benevolence has helped our nation
to overcome the many challenges it has had since we celebrated Christmas last
year.

The annual commemoration of the birth of our Lord, Jesus
Christ is a most auspicious time for us, as individuals and as a nation, to
rededicate ourselves to the virtues and ideals which the Messiah preached and exemplified
during his earthly ministry.

Let us all therefore resolve this Christmas to make the
ideals of peace, harmony, tolerance, love and goodwill to all even more
manifest in our interactions with others.

It remains my sincere belief that no height of human
accomplishment is beyond us as a nation, if we can overcome our differences,
such as they are, and forge a binding national consensus to put the progress
and well-being of the country above all other considerations.

My administration will do all within its powers and
abilities to ensure that when representatives of our people assemble for the
forthcoming national conference next year, they will have every opportunity and
encouragement to make very significant contributions towards forging the required
consensus for sustained national peace, unity and progress.

It is also my expectation that the national conference will
contribute in no small measure towards the urgent resolution of contentious
issues which currently hinder our progress as a nation.

With God Almighty as our Guide, Strength and Enabler, My
Administration will continue to implement its Agenda for National
Transformation in furtherance of its avowed commitment to improving the living
conditions of all Nigerians.

We will continue to count on the prayers, support and
cooperation of all patriotic Nigerians in the coming year as we consolidate and
build on our achievements in several sectors including national security, power
supply, communications, transportation, health and education.

As we commemorate the birth of the Prince of Peace, let us
all strive to honour Him more by living our lives as He taught; by making
personal sacrifices for the good of others, by showing greater love for others,
by being fairer and more honest in our dealings with others, by being
ever-willing to forgive those who offend us and by always extending goodwill
towards others.

On behalf of myself, my family and the Federal Government, I
wish you all very joyful Christmas celebrations, and a peaceful and prosperous
2014.

Goodluck Ebele Jonathan

President,

Federal Republic of Nigeria