President Goodluck Jonathan on Saturday urged Nigerians to be prepared to make sacrifices for the unity and political stability of the country.

Jonathan made the call in an Easter message he personally signed and made available to journalists by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati.

He urged Nigerians to use the Easter holiday to reflect on what more they needed to do to ensure that the ongoing political process is concluded successfully.

The President said, “For Christians all over the world, the major lessons of Easter, which we celebrate this year in the midst of general elections in our nation, are to be found in the Messiah’s divine love and glorious self-sacrifice for the redemption of mankind.

“This year’s celebration of Easter is taking place at a period of very critical national choices and decisions, during which we must all be prepared and willing to make sacrifices for greater unity, peace, political stability and progress in our beloved country.

“We must therefore seize the opportunity of the Easter holiday to reflect deeply on what more we need to do as a people, to ensure that the political process in which we are currently engaged is successfully concluded and that our beloved country, Nigeria continues to move towards a better future for all of its citizens.

Happily, we have already successfully scaled the hurdle of the Presidential and National Assembly Elections. I am quite hopeful that the Gubernatorial and State Assembly elections will also be conducted peacefully.

“To the glory and pride of our fatherland, our collective actions since March 28 have assured the world that the democratic spirit is alive and well in our nation.

“By the grace of God, our beloved nation, Nigeria is moving forward despite all challenges.”

He further urged Nigerians to pray during Easter that God who had brought the nation this far, would continue to bless the country as it marches onward towards the fulfillment of collective vision of a truly united, strong and prosperous nation.