My dearly beloved children of God, it is another Christmas Season, commemorating the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The event commemorating this occasion occurred over 2000 years ago reminding us of God�s inestimable love for mankind

�For to us a child is born, to us a Son is given and the government will be on His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and Peace there will be no end�.

Careful study of His coming deliberated much on Peace and on a Peaceful government. This should be a challenge to us as a people, a challenge on our political institution and other structures.

It is saddening that 70% of Nigerians are living below poverty level. It is the responsibility of government to provide jobs for Nigerians and in Nigeria and not to add more to their problems.

We vehemently oppose the mass lay-offs in the banking sectors. Myriads of people have lost their jobs since the beginning of the banking sector reforms with more on the queue.

Statistics reveal that only last week alone, Oceanic International Bank Plc which declared a loss of N286bn, disengaged 250 members of staff out of the 1,400 penciled down for sacking in its rationalization exercise.

Similarly, Intercontinental Bank Plc reported that 1,500 workers were sacked out of work-force about 5,000 as a result of the shake-up in the banking sector.

Wema Bank Plc had sacked about 500 workers including 25 top managers while Spring Bank Plc also laid off 200 members of staff.

The question is where is peace in our nation? What will happen to the children of these laid off staff? Is it an issue of a blinking hope?

We pray that government should intervene before things get worse.

Nigeria should be a detribalized nation. Our politicians should work hard in ensuring that they live indelible impression on the sand of time. The crisis of epileptic power supply is impoverishing us as a nation. Precious lives have been lost to explosions caused by petrol. Whole families have died in their sleep because of fumes from power generating set. Small and large scale businesses have folded up, even some have moved out of Nigeria to Ghana because of their inability to sustain the high cost of production. The political class should look into this and to ensure that they promote peace.

Federal government should quickly address the issue of fuel scarcity in the country. The situation has so deepened so much that it has crippled movements during this yuletide and crippled some sector of our economy.

We pray for the Lagos State Governor, Barrister Raji Fashola, SAN and the Lagos State government entirely. Lagos State no doubt is a cynosure of all eyes for others to emulate. Federal Government should assist the state in the area of funding noting that the State is the nation�s industrial and commercial centre. Lagos State should be accorded special status.

We call on Nigerians on their part to maintain peace during this period and to remain prayerful. Hopes are not lost. God is with Nigeria.

We must not leave important areas of our lives to the government alone. We must pay our taxes and assist government. We must muster our collective will to confront negative issues that threaten to keep us and our children in under-development and penury. Nigeria being the sixth largest producer of oil should not experience fuel scarcity.

We call on the executive and legislative arms of government at the local, states and federal level to show compassion on Nigeria.

We wish you a merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year. God bless you.

The Most Revd Dr. E. Adebola Ademowo, OON,
The Archbishop of Lagos and Bishop of Lagos