The Northern Elders Forum (NEF) has drawn from both the Holy Qur’an and the Holy Bible in its Christmas message, urging Nigerians to uphold unity, peace and mutual understanding.
The forum extended Christmas greetings to Christians in Northern Nigeria and across the country, while also wishing all Nigerians well as the year comes to an end and a new one approaches.
In a statement issued by its spokesperson, Professor Abubakar Jika Jiddere, the NEF described Christmas as a period for reflection, spiritual renewal and a recommitment to the core values of love, peace and sacrifice.
According to Jiddere, the season offers an opportunity for individuals and nations to reassess their paths and renew their commitment to principles that promote peaceful coexistence.
He said: “It is a moment that calls on individuals and nations alike to pause, look inward, and recommit to the higher ideals that sustain peaceful coexistence.
“As the Holy Bible reminds us, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men’ (Luke 2:14). This timeless message speaks directly to our shared aspiration for harmony and mutual respect in Nigeria.
“In the same spirit, the Holy Qur’an teaches: ‘O mankind, indeed We have created you from male and female and made you peoples and tribes that you may know one another. Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you’ (Qur’an 49:13).
“This profound guidance underscores the sanctity of human dignity and affirms that our diversity, religious, ethnic, and culture is a divine trust that must be preserved through tolerance and understanding.”
The elders called on Nigerians to use the festive period for honest national introspection, noting that the country is at a defining moment where unity, love and collective responsibility are critical.
Jiddere appealed to citizens, leaders, institutions and communities to put aside divisions, shun hatred and recommit themselves to peaceful engagement and shared national progress.
He said: “As families travel to celebrate the season with loved ones, the Forum places strong emphasis on safety and the preservation of life. We appeal to all road users to exercise caution, patience, and responsibility, and we urge security agencies and community leaders to remain vigilant in safeguarding lives and property throughout the festive period. No celebration is complete if human life is lost or endangered.
“Looking ahead to the New Year, the Northern Elders Forum expresses hope for a Nigeria guided by wisdom, justice, and compassion. We believe that with sincere leadership and responsible citizenship, our nation can overcome its challenges and move steadily toward peace, stability, and shared prosperity.”
The forum also prayed that the Christmas season would bring comfort to households across the country and that the New Year would usher in renewed hope, national healing and a deeper sense of brotherhood among Nigerians.
