By Adeyinka Adeniran
As Nigerian Christians join their counterparts across the globe to celebrate this year’s Christmas, the paramount ruler of Ibadanland, Olubadan Oba Lekan Balogun, has enjoined them to take proper lessons in the birth of Jesus Christ as signified by the annual Christmas celebration.
This was contained in the Christmas message by the Olubadan which was made available to journalists in Ibadan by his Personal Assistant (Media) Oladele Ogunsola on Sunday.
The monarch recalled that the Biblical accounts of the birth of Jesus Christ are full of lessons in tolerance, patience and love.
Oba Balogun said the love of God for mankind upon which the coming into this world of Jesus Christ was predicated and whose birth the Christmas signifies, His life while on earth and his remembrance over 2000 years after his exit from the world are more than enough lessons for all.
Asking that the love which the whole thing about Christ and Christmas symbolizes should permeate among the people, the monarch said “our love for one another should never be compromised for whatever reason. We should live for ourselves by being caring, concerned and ready to make sacrifice”.
While calling on leaders in the country to think more of the people’s welfare in all what they do, Oba Balogun maintained that “it is only by doing that that we can please God. Our leaders should at all times be conscious of the fact that they are in positions to affect people’s lives positively and any deviation is simply not of God.
“As followers too, we have our roles to play by showing love to our leaders and by being law abiding. Let’s love our country dearly by saying positive things about it and acting positively. Whatever we are doing to undermine the system is not of God and is against our fellow beings. Let’s pray for our leaders to give us good and loving leadership.
“In the spirit of the season, I charge all to rededicate our lives to those things that would please God. All through His earthly sojourn, Jesus Christ pleased His father and till date and even till eternity, He remains a reference point because His father was pleased in Him. Let’s all try in our respective little ways to please God by our acts and deeds. Merry Christmas to all and happy and prosperous New Year in advance”, Olubadan added.
