“THE LIGHT OF CHRISTMAS”
1. Umunne m ndi Abia, I bring you joyful greetings this Christmas morning. On this great day when we celebrate the anniversary of the birth of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, it is only proper that we begin on a note of generous gratitude to the Almighty God for sparing our lives and for bringing us into the joy of the yuletide. Let me also welcome our brothers and sisters who have travelled from different parts of the world to share the warmth and affection of the season with us. We are glad to have you in our midst and wish you the full measure of blessings that Christmas promises.
2. As a government, we appreciate that this season comes with extensive social and economic demands. We have therefore taken extra care to ensure that you can function from any community in the State, however seemingly remote. On account of the massive investments that have been made in road infrastructure development; intra and inter-community travels for the most part have become a pleasurable experience. Our development efforts have also led to modest improvements in electricity and water supply, robust telephony and internet services, and other amenities that support modern living in some parts of the state. I am proud to announce that we now have a functional primary healthcare facility within reach in several communities to support the basic healthcare needs of our people. We have also made necessary arrangements to guarantee the security of lives and property in all parts of the State so you can travel to wherever you choose, within the State, in the confidence that you are in Abia — one of the safest destinations to live and travel to.
3. We appreciate the dire economic situation many individuals and households are passing through. Within the limits of the resources available to us, provisions for family support packages have been made to cater for the extremely vulnerable in different communities. We also invite individuals, families, groups and organisations to reach out to the less privileged and share whatever little we have for therein is the fullness of joy. This Christmas, let us bear the light of Christ’s love wherever we go, encouraging one another with our words, gifts and presence. We may not be able to do much but whatever little we can do with a sincere heart would be sufficient to bring joy and laughter to those in need. I invite us to remember in a special way, our brothers and sisters who may have been incapacitated by the miseries of ill-health and several others who on account of the shipwrecks of life, are unable to independently cater for themselves. Let us be consistently mindful of the fact that we are a family of God’s people where one person’s legitimate anxiety can abruptly steal the sleep from our own eyes. This, indeed, is the best time to be our brothers’ keepers.
