As preparations are on for the celebration of the forthcoming Christmas, the national leader of the Knights of St. John International (KSJI), otherwise called the Supreme Subordinate President, Nigeria, Maj. Gen. (Prof) Remy Uche, has implored Nigerians to show love and compassion to one another as Jesus Christ did to the whole world, for peace, security and national development.

Maj. Gen. Uche spoke in his Christmas/New Year message to the world.

He said that given the prevailing circumstances in the country, it had become necessary this time for Nigerians to show love and compassion to one another to reduce the high level of distrust and hatred that had been a major trouble with the country, which, as he observed, is responsible for some of the social vices that hold it down in terms of peace, security and national development.

The SSP said without love and compassion for one another, the country would continue to polarise and operate along tribal, sectional, religious divisions and discrimination, a situation that doesn’t encourage peace, harmony, national security and development.

He urged Christians using the Christmas season to show love to Muslims and people of other faith by inviting them to celebrate Christmas with them or going to their various places of worship to give charity to them, especially the needy among them.

He said that where there was no love for one another, irrespective of the diversity of culture, religion and geography, there would be no understanding, peace, national cohesion and development.

He advised both Christians and Muslims in particular to eschew any differences orchestrated by politicians for their selfish gains.

Prof. Uche commended members of the KSJI in Nigeria for their perseverance and steadfastness to the order despite recent challenges, hoping that things would be better in the year ahead.

He thanked them for their support and cooperation with his administration, assuring them of rendering selfless and quality leadership for the good of the Order.

Knights of St. John International (KSJI) is a fraternal organisation of much male and female faithful of the Roman Catholic Church across the globe, but with the international headquarters in New York, USA. Their major work is doing charity to society and the church.

There are about 18,000 members of the organisation in Nigeria, with Prof. Uche, a professor of Mechanical Engineering at the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO) and holding the rank of Major General in the Order, as the Supreme Subordinate President.