Rev. Fr Patrick Alumuku has urged Palestine and Israel to seize hostilities and give peace a chance for national and regional development.
Alumuku, the Parish Priest of St Louis Catholic Church Idu, Abuja, made the call in an interview with newsmen on the sideline of his 65th birthday celebration on Sunday.
The cleric said that one of his birthday wishes was for there to be peace between Israel and Palestine and also peace in Nigeria.
“One thing that Nigeria needs today is peace, and with peace, we have the capacity and possibility of moving forward.
“If we lack peace, we will be moving one step forward and take three steps backwards which is what we have been experiencing since independence.
“We want peace, want true peace, we want our leadership to establish true peace in our nation and to make sure that they spend more resources on peace than on anything else.
“I am asking for a seizure of hostilities, because this is exactly the problem that has held Palestine and Israel back; Israel could have been a major been a major world power today.
“There are tensions and a situation of instability Israel, I wish there should be peace between Israel and Palestine,” he said.
Alumuku said every birthday is a major event in to thank God, saying that every day, we should be grateful to God for all he has done in our lives.
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Sen. George Akume said that he was excited to be at the ceremony to celebrate with Alumuku on his birthday.
Represented by Mr Simon Tyungu, the Director, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Akume described Alumuku as a Hardworking priest.
“Let me begin by thanking Almighty God for this special occasion of his 65th Birthday Celebration Indeed, it is the last one and is marvelous in our sight.
“Fr. Patrick is well known to me, during this period of our relationship, Fr. has proven to be very hard working and a gentleman per excellence.
“He has worked tirelessly to uphold the tenants and doctrines of the Catholic Church. I still remember with nostalgia, his days at Vatican in Rome , it is worthy of note that he further perform this assignment, which mark distinction,” he said.
Also, Prince Arthur Eze, has commended President Bola Tinubu for ensuring equitable representation of all parts of the nation in his appointments.
He said that the appointment of Akume as SGF through whom he came to know Alumuku was a wonderful choice.
According to him, what belong to the North, East, and South were equitably distributed and there will be peace in all region.
In an interview, Rep. Nicholas Mutu (PDP-Delta) prayed God to grant Alumuku good health and more years in the lord’s vineyard.
Mutu who represents Patani/Bomadi Federal Constituency of Delta charged the priest to continue his good works and remain a blessing to all.
“He is our mentor, our prayer is that Hod should sustain him, give him long life and good health, and let him never retire completely because we still need him and his services are still required.
“Continue to mentor us, he goes out of his way to help people, let him still be himself, he will discomfort himself to help people, let him continue with that good life and remain a blessing to us,” he said.
Mutu who is the longest serving member of the National Assembly said that the secret of longitivtiy is God, urging young Nigerians who wants longitivtiy in public service to hold unto God.