My dear people of Akwa Ibom State, welcome to 2010 Christmas Day. As we join the Christian world today to mark the birth of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, my wife and I, on behalf of the government of Akwa Ibom State, wish you a very merry Christmas. Let me also express the deep gratitude of the government and people of the state to the Almighty God, for His faithfulness and for His will so far accomplished in our dear state.

In celebrating this historic event, we should not allow the festivities, the winning and dinning and the giving and receiving of tokens of love to becloud our perception of its profound importance and wise lessons.

Christ was a manifold gift from God to mankind. In the first instance, He was a gift of love. We all know that man had lost favour before God; he had lost his place of prime importance in the heart of God. But in the demonstration of incomparable magnanimity, God tamed the fire of His anger and showed humanity unmerited love. This is why it is said that “Love was born at Christmas”. In the second place, Christ was the olive branch of God made manifest; the fountain of His peace and goodwill to man, that will never end. Furthermore, Christ was the bearer of good news, news of the kingdom of God where justice and equity reign, and the chosen vessel for the restoration of man back to the heart of God.

Having considered the significance of the birth of Christ which we celebrate today, what lessons can we imbibe from this gesture of God’s love and his demonstration of uncommon magnanimity towards humanity? There is no doubt that a time such as this should remind us that God who created all things is truly love. It should remind all of us that if God could forgive those who wrong him and love those who despised him, we have no excuse not to practice forgiveness and engender love among us.

It is worthy of note that Nigerians and in particular, we the people of Akwa Ibom State are commemorating the birth of Christ at a period when we are in the process of revalidating the electoral mandate of our leaders who have done well, and electing others who are worthy of public trust. This is a period of aspiration and contest for political offices and positions. This is a period when some misguided and selfish politicians in striving to put themselves or their candidates forward, fall into the temptation of attempting to bring fellow citizens down through mischief.

I consider it appropriate to implore you, my brothers and sisters, not to allow political electioneering to follow the path of rancor nor lead you to the cesspool of acrimony, do not stray from the path of sanity and decorum, nor attempt to destroy the peace, love and unity which we have achieved so far. We need peace to sustain the rapid development and the distribution of the dividends of democracy which we are currently experiencing in our state.

As an administration, we have chosen to toe the high moral ground and recommit ourselves towards campaigns based on issues that will keep hopes alive for all our people. Hope for our children in free and compulsory education; hope for our women in free medical treatment when they are pregnant; hope for the unborn in free medicare until the age of five; hope for the aged in free medical treatment to keep them alive longer. In fact, hope for all Akwa Ibom people that promises which make our state ‘The Land of Promise’ are for everyone irrespective of gender, ethnic group or age. Hope for our state in the continuity of the current uncommon transformation. I urge you to follow the light of this hope, as the wise men followed the star after the angels heralded the birth of Christ. Together, we shall cross the portals of 2011 and complete the transformation of our state which we began in 2007.

Let me also use this season of love to appreciate all Akwa Ibom people for the love they have showered on us as a government. The angels proclaimed at Christ’s birth, “Glory to God in the highest, peace on earth and goodwill towards men”, and this angelic herald sums up our guiding philosophy as a government. We give God glory in the highest for all our achievements; we are completely committed to the peace of our state.

Let us therefore allow the spirit of the season to inspire us to replicate in our daily dealings with one another and in all our activities the gesture of love that God demonstrated towards humanity. As your governor, I have not relented in leading the government and people of our state to the throne of grace in times challenges. God in turn has not failed to harken to the request of our lips. We shall continue to seek the face of God in all our endeavours. Confident that with God on our side, our unceasing prayers shall bring forth peace and prosperity to us and the nation. With God on our side, Nigeria and Akwa Ibom State shall experience peaceful, non-violent and credible elections in 2011.

Therefore, I remind all citizens of their civic responsibility of going out to register during the forthcoming voters registration exercise. It is the main weapon in the hands of citizens to elect the government and representatives of their choices.

Once again, I say to you all, MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR!