Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has called on Nigerians to embrace unity, love, and shared national values as Christians across the country celebrate the 2025 Christmas season.
Atiku made the call on Thursday through messages he shared on social media platform X. In his Christmas message, he urged Nigerians to use the festive period as a time for reflection, healing, and renewed commitment to the unity of the country.
The former Vice President, who is also a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), directed a special message to Christian Nigerians, describing Christmas as a period that reminds people of important virtues Nigeria urgently needs.
According to Atiku, Christmas represents love, sacrifice, forgiveness, and compassion, values that can help the country overcome its many challenges.
“Christmas is a solemn reminder of the virtues of love, sacrifice, forgiveness, and compassion,” he said.
He added that these values are especially important at a time when Nigeria is facing serious economic, social, and security problems.
Atiku urged Nigerians not to allow differences in religion, ethnicity, or political views to divide them. Instead, he said citizens should focus on what unites them as one people with a shared future.
“This season also calls us to rise above division and embrace one another in love,” Atiku said.
He encouraged Nigerians to heal old wounds caused by years of conflict, misunderstanding, and hardship.
“It is a season that invites us to heal old wounds, to forgive, and to recommit ourselves to the unity and common destiny of our nation,” he added.
Atiku also advised Nigerians to use the Christmas season not only for celebration but also for deep reflection and prayer. He said this was necessary to seek divine guidance for peace, justice, and renewed hope for the country.
“I urge Nigerians to use the season not merely for celebration, but for quiet reflection and prayer, seeking divine guidance for peace, justice, and renewed hope for the country,” he said.
Christmas is widely celebrated across Nigeria, especially among Christians, with church services, family gatherings, and acts of charity. It is also a period when leaders often use the opportunity to send messages of hope and unity to the people.
Atiku’s message comes at a time when Nigeria is dealing with rising living costs, insecurity, and growing political tension. Many Nigerians are struggling with inflation, unemployment, and the effects of recent economic reforms.
In several parts of the country, insecurity remains a major concern. Attacks by insurgents in the North-East, banditry in the North-West, and communal clashes in other regions have continued to claim lives and displace communities.
These challenges, Atiku said in past statements, require unity and cooperation among Nigerians, regardless of differences.
As a former Vice President from 1999 to 2007, Atiku has remained a strong voice in national discussions. He has contested for the presidency several times and is regarded as one of the leading opposition figures in the country.
Although he is now a member of the African Democratic Congress, Atiku continues to speak on national issues, especially matters related to governance, democracy, and national cohesion.
Nigeria is a diverse country with hundreds of ethnic groups and multiple religions. While this diversity is often seen as a strength, it has also been a source of conflict when not properly managed.
Over the years, religious and ethnic misunderstandings have led to violence in some parts of the country. Leaders and civil society groups have continued to stress the need for tolerance and dialogue.
Atiku’s call for unity is similar to messages often delivered by past and present leaders during festive periods. Such messages usually encourage Nigerians to support one another and work together for national development.
The former Vice President also emphasized forgiveness, saying Nigerians must be willing to let go of past grievances if the country is to move forward.
Atiku’s message also highlighted the role of prayer and reflection. In Nigeria, faith plays a central role in the lives of many citizens, and religious periods are often seen as moments to seek divine intervention in national affairs.
Church leaders across the country have also used Christmas services to pray for peace, good leadership, and economic recovery.
Many Nigerians have reacted positively to Atiku’s message, describing it as timely and necessary. Some social media users said the message reflects the feelings of many citizens who are tired of division and hardship.
Others, however, believe that political leaders should go beyond messages and work actively toward policies that promote unity and improve living conditions.
As Nigerians continue to celebrate Christmas, Atiku urged them to show kindness to one another and to remember the less privileged.
Christmas is traditionally a time of giving, and many individuals, religious groups, and organisations use the period to support the poor, visit orphanages and assist those in need.