BUHARI :DON'T LOSE HOPE IN MY CHANGE AGENDA

President Buhari made the appeal today in his Easter message to the nation. He thanked Nigerians for their patience and understanding in the first ten months of his administration, assuring that he was working very hard to overcome the challenges he encountered on assumption of office. The president also assured that he was moving on with an "unshaken" resolve and determination to deliver on the mandate Nigerians gave him on March 28, last year. He said: "Faith, belief and the fulfilment of expectations are also key themes of the Easter celebration. I urge you all, therefore, to continue to have faith in the future greatness of our country and to believe that the CHANGE my administration promised will surely come to fruition". Buhari, however, stressed that the change which all Nigerians yearned for, would certainly occur more rapidly "if we all place the love of our country above selfish personal and group interests". The president also assured that the 2016 national budget would be efficiently and successfully implemented. He said: "The National Assembly has just passed the 2016 budget. I assure all Nigerians that we will do our utmost best to ensure that the budget, the first since my election as president, is efficiently and successfully implemented towards achieving our objective of faster economic growth and development". He said Nigeria would make faster progress towards achieving the desired peaceful, united, strong, progressive and prosperous country if the citizens eschew all divisive, "parochial, ethnic and religious sentiments and rivalries" as well as begin to live more harmoniously with their compatriots, as Jesus Christ and the founders of the world's other great religions enjoined mankind. According to him, "Our unfortunate notoriety in recent years as a country where the blood of men, women and children are wantonly and callously shed in frequent orgies of criminal, political, ethnic and religious violence has become very embarrassing and utterly unacceptable". Buhari, who said his government was determined to achieve greater peace and security across Nigeria by ending the avoidable conflicts and crises hindering the nation's progress, asked for greater support from the citizenry in that regard. President Buhari also maintained that the country must put a stop to politically motivated killings, saying "Our communities must be made safe again for all inhabitants to live together in peace and harmony." He said the armed forces, police and other security agencies were being progressively "reformed, repositioned and empowered" to win the war against terrorism and make mass killings, abductions and other criminal atrocities things of the past in the country. He urged all Nigerians to also play their parts as patriotic citizens and do all they could to make the country a safer, more peaceful and happier place for its people and others. The president said: "I rejoice with you all, especially our Christian brothers and sisters, as we celebrate Easter. For Christians all over the world, this celebration is in commemoration of the supreme sacrifice which Jesus Christ made for the salvation of mankind. The Gospels also tell us that during his earthly ministry, Jesus Christ repeatedly urged his disciples and followers to 'love one another as I have loved you'. "As we celebrate Easter this year, I sincerely believe that it will serve our dear nation very well if we all imbibe this essential message of Jesus Christ and truly learn to love  our countrymen and women as we love ourselves". President Buhari wished all Nigerians very happy Easter celebrations.