By Sule Aliyu Bauchi
Bauchi State chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) on Sunday, held the 8th edition of its annual Christmas Carol to herald the commencement of activities leading to the celebration of the Yuletide season.
The Carol of Seven Lessons was held at the RCCG, Overcomer’s Parish, Millennium Quarters, Yelwa drew Christians from different denominations as well as different Choral groups which rendered Christmas songs and melodies.
The Seven Lessons were read by different people selected from among the Clergies and other lay leaders including women.
While making his remarks, State CAN Chairman, Rev Dr Abraham Damina Dimeus warned Christian farmers not sell their farm produce for the pressure of celebrating Christmas, saying that they may live to regret such actions.
The CAN Chairman expressed fear over possible danger of hunger in the coming year, 2025 warning the Christians farmers to preserve their produce to avoid falling victims of circumstances if eventually, food items became expensive in 2025.
Abraham Damina also urged Christians in the State to be careful, and not to be too extravagant in spending, saying there’s danger ahead.
He said that, “2025 is going to be a tough year, I don’t know how it will be but it is going to be a very difficult one. We have seen the sign of it with the various things that are happening around us, strange things that one cannot explain.”
He stressed that, “Well, I think that the year 2025 is a pregnant year, And what is going to give birth to, I don’t know, but we have to be careful. We need to be as wise as the serpent and as gentle as the dove.”
The CAN Chairman lamented that unknown persons have been visiting people’s farms at night carting away their unharvested farm produces, this is spelling doom for everyone.
According to him,”I have been in Bauchi for 23 years but this is the first time I am witnessing this kind of thing. I am a victim too, unknown people visited my farm and harvested what I farmed, this a terrible situation, may God see us through it.”
Abraham Damina then appealed that,”Please, do not sell your grains because we don’t know what the year 2025 will birth but it is pregnant with a lot of things. Our prayer is that God will take control and see us through the situation. Things are very terrible in the country.”
He also advised that,”It is not compulsory that you travel to the village for the Christmas, if you don’t have the means, stay where you are and enjoy the Yuletide period, celebrate the birth of the Saviour of the world, Jesus Christ. Don’t borrow to celebrate the season because you will regret your actions.”
The CAN Chairman also admonished the women not to pressure their husbands into doing unholy things just because of one day festivities urging them to cut their clothes according to the available ones.
He stressed that,”If you know that going to the village would be very expensive for you., please don’t go. My Village is just acrossed, but I will not go. So, if you want to spend the rest of the money or November salary to go to the Village, Safe journey, and when you come back, what you meet at home, don’t blame your husband, or wife. Don’t blame anybody, don’t blame your children, don’t blame your Pastors.”
He stressed that,”We need to tell our members to be aware of the year 2025. Things are going to be pretty difficult. You have been forewarned.”
He then commended the State Governor, Sen Bala Abdulkadir Muhammad for standing up to fill the gap for the Christian community saying that,”The Christian community has not found it so good like during this administration.”
According to him, “Our CAN Secretariat that had been abandoned for 23 years is now almost completed, every year, we get seats for pilg to Israel. We also have many Christians as political appointees as well as top State Government officials. It is indeed a very good time for us.”
He stressed that,”The Governor did something I will never forget, the Contractor handling the construction of the Secretariat is one of us, a Christian, he is doing extremely well with project, he assured that even if he does not gain anything, he will complete the project. We thank him most sincerely.”
The CAN Chairman then appealed that there should be no rush for gift items during the normal homage to the Government House during the Christmas season saying that,”Please, our women, be careful and respect yourselves while at the Government House.
