Christmas 2025: Leaders Preach Peace As Nigeria Seeks Common Ground
Christmas Diplomacy at Home Leaders Target Divides, Not Rivals
AS Nigeria marked Christmas 2025 under two-day federal public holidays, leaders turned the season into a platform for what analysts describe as “domestic diplomacy” appealing directly to citizens rather than political rivals.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio led the chorus with a message of tolerance and collective care. David Mark followed with a call for unity, peace, and vigilance, signalling that Christmas must coexist with civic responsibility.
In Lagos, Adetokunbo Abiru stressed reconciliation and urged Nigerians to reject ethnic, religious, and political fragmentation, backing ongoing reforms. Adamawa Governor Ahmadu Fintiri and Kwara Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq localised the message, praising Christians for peace-building and calling for continued harmony and security cooperation.
Organised labour reframed the message with economic urgency. NLC President Joe Ajaero told Nigerians that hope lies in solidarity and disciplined collective action, linking unity to social justice and equity for workers.
Governors in the South including Hope Uzodimma (Imo) and Seyi Makinde (Oyo) urged citizens to remember vulnerable populations and live the humility exemplified by Christ’s birth, while staying alert to community security.
Collectively, the leaders emphasised that Christmas goodwill must translate into everyday accountability, social empathy, and national cohesion. Their calls come at a time when national unity is increasingly viewed as a strategic buffer against misinformation, identity polarisation, and recruitment narratives exploited by extremist actors.
