By Stephen Gbadamosi, Ibadan, and Sylvia Kodilichukwu, Enugu
As Christians began the lent season with Ash Wednesday, Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has enjoined Nigerian Christian faithful to use the period as a time of prayer and sober reflection.
Akpabio, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Hon. Eseme Eyiboh, also admonished Christians to remember mortality and the need for humility and repentance.
He said: “As we dust ourselves with ashes, let us remember our mortality and the need for humility and repentance.
“May this season be a time for introspection, forgiveness, and reconciliation, strengthening our bond with God and with one another.”
He also promised that, “on our part as legislators, we will continue to make laws that would promote unity, peace, and understanding among all Nigerians.
“As Christians around the world observe Ash Wednesday, on behalf of my family, constituents, the Senate and 10th National Assembly, I extend warm greetings and blessings to all of you.”
On his part, Gov. Peter Mbah of Enugu State urged Nigerians of both faiths to see the unique convergence as a divine call to embrace values that promote unity, love, service and peaceful co-existence.
Governor Mbah noted that such remarkable coincidence was a reminder that while paths of worship may differ, Nigerians remain united in values of faith, sacrifice, compassion, and devotion to God espoused by the two religions.
This was contained in his message to the people of the state and Nigerians earlier on Ash Wednesday and while also fielding questions from newsmen after a Holy Mass he attended to usher in the Lenten season at the Government House Chapel, Enugu.
“Lent calls Christians to prayer, fasting, penitence, almsgiving, and renewed commitment to love and service. Ramadan invites Muslims into a month of fasting, reflection, charity, and spiritual discipline.
“Both seasons teach restraint, deepen empathy for the less privileged, and strengthen our resolve to live in righteousness and peace,” Mbah noted.
He also described Ash Wednesday and Lent as a season of sober reflection and cutting down on excesses, as man must ultimately return to dust.
“Ash Wednesday is also a reminder that we are from dust, and to dust we must return. So, for me, I think it is also a time for us to reflect on our actions and be a better version of who we are as leaders, as workers, as team players.”
In his homily, the Catholic Bishop of Enugu Diocese, Most Reverend Calistus Onaga, called on Christians to uphold prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, which he described as the three cardinal principles of Lenten season.
As the 2026 Ramadan and Lent seasons commenced yesterday, Oyo State governor, ‘Seyi Makinde, has felicitated the Muslim Ummah and Christians in the state and all over the country.
The governor urged them to use the blessed period to make deeper commitment in serving God and making impact on humanity.
A statement by his Special Adviser (Media), Dr. Sulaimon Olanrewaju, disclosed that Gov. Makinde pointed out that God Almighty was using the coincidence in the two fasting seasons to, again, teach adherents of both religions the need for love, unity and religious harmony and that the lesson must not be lost throughout the period.
Governor Makinde, who lauded the Muslims and Christians in Oyo State for always living together in harmony and working hand in hand to ensure that the state continued to make progress by supporting his government since 2019, tasked them to use the 2026 Ramadan and Lent fasting periods to further make supplication to God for the state and Nigeria as well as for the leaders.
He promised that his administration would continue to serve them and put their interests first.
Also dwelling on the season, Olubadan of Ibadanland, His Imperial Majesty Oba (Dr.) Rasidi Adewolu Ladoja (Arusa1), called on both adherents of Islam and Christianity to use the fasting period to pray for the progress of Nigeria.
His admonition was contained in the press release issued and signed by the Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to Olubadan of Ibadanland, Chief Ayoade Solomon Olugbemiga, on the commencement of both Ramadan and Lent fasting period.
Oba Ladoja reminded adherents of the two religions of the essence of both Ramadan and Lent which centered on sober reflection, forgiveness, kindness, peaceful co-existence, discipline and spiritual renewal.
According to the paramount ruler, “the convergence of Ramadan and Lenten periods is not a mere coincidence, but divine arrangement to show the whole world the need for unity, togetherness, love, religious tolerance and mutual understanding among the religious faithful.
“Fasting period is not only abstaining from food and drinks, but also from indecent ways of life, ill speeches, hatred, among others.”
The first-class Oba enjoined all and sundry to use the opportunity of Ramadan and Lent to pray for leaders, Ibadanland, Yoruba race and Nigeria as a nation, especially during this period that the country was faced with several challenges, particularly insecurity of lives and property.
He appreciated the unflinching support he has been receiving from all the religious faithful and their leaders since his enthronement as 44th Olubadan of Ibadanland, urging them not to relent in their prayers for the unity, progress, security, economic rejuvenation and peace co-existence in Ibadanland.
