By Deborah Hassan
Immediate past President of Nigeria, Dr. Ebele Goodluck Jonathan, has urged Nigerians to keep hope alive and strive to recover from the losses incurred from the COVID-19 pandemic.
He also added that the New Year offers an opportunity for greater personal and national glory.
In a New Year Message to Nigerians, Jonathan further urged his fellow compatriots to embrace the new norms, traditions and cultures that have been thrown up by recent events globally.
While acknowledging that many citizens have been through one loss or the other occasioned by the Coronavirus, he advised that, “These unfortunate events should propel us to re-examine ourselves, re-evaluate our priorities and commit ourselves to new norms, new cultures and new traditions.”
He continued, “This is the beginning of a new journey, a new chapter, a fresh opportunity to start and recover from the losses of 2020.
“Last year was a challenging year, characterized by tales of misfortunes, deaths and illnesses. It was a tough moment for many homes and families owing to the unfortunate #COVID-19.
“The pandemic plagued our world with many consequences, causing hardship and other forms of insecurity.
“2020 was a year of many challenges and struggles both as individuals and as a nation. From #COVID-19 to #EndSARS protests, we witnessed disruptions in our cultures, economy, livelihoods and life itself.
“These unfortunate events should propel us to re-examine ourselves, re-evaluate our priorities and commit ourselves to new norms, new cultures and new traditions.
“The recent happenings in our world, specifically in our country Nigeria, should teach us new lessons. Lessons on faith, solidarity, justice, hope and peace.
“We must aggregate these lessons, challenges, gains as well as losses of this period and harness them towards national rebirth and reconciliation.
“As a nation, we cannot afford to fail this New Year; ignoring the existing gaps and contradictions that have continued to threaten our peace, unity and progress.”
While calling for engagements that entrench accountability, justice, and peace in our systems, he stated that “going forward, we should retool our disposition to imbibe new ways and embrace new traditions.
“Cultures that would correct the faultiness in our nation and promote peace, guarantee security and hope to all our people. We must prioritise such habits that entrench accountability, justice, and peace in our systems.”
The former President commended all Nigerians for their patriotism and courage amidst daunting challenges, while saluting the sacrifices of all those in the frontline working tirelessly to ensure safety and those who have remained committed to protecting our lives and defending our unity.
He commiserated with families who lost loved ones to COVID- 19 and other illnesses and circumstances in the year 2020 and adminished, “No matter our present realities today – whether good, bad or ugly, sweet, sour or bitter, we must continue to hope and strive for greater honour and glory for ourselves and our nation in this new year and beyond.”