The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) urged national unity and peaceful coexistence in its Easter message.
The faithful have been urged to seek and pray for unity as Christians in Nigeria and throughout the world observe Easter, the yearly celebration of Jesus Christ’s resurrection.
The festivities mark the conclusion of Holy Week, which begins with Palm Sunday to commemorate Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem.
Today, millions of Nigerians flocked to churches for special Easter services, prayers, and thanksgiving.
Appeals for Peace and Unity
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) urged national unity and peaceful coexistence in its Easter message.
“As a country, Nigeria has recently encountered several difficulties, including insecurity, economic instability, and social and political turmoil. Yet we may overcome our difficulties and begin again, just as Christ rose from the dead and gave the world new life, said CAN President Archbishop Okoh in his Easter address.
“Let us all join together this Easter and reaffirm our commitment to constructing a better Nigeria.”
The preacher continued, “Let us set aside our differences and come together in unity, just as Christ’s resurrection united people from all walks of life.
In their individual Easter statements, President Muhammadu Buhari, governors, and prominent Nigerians emphasized the significance of the day and urged prayers for Nigeria.
The President emphasized that the victory of light over darkness is the central theme of Easter.
Recognizing that Easter is about rekindled hope and a magnificent future, Buhari advised all Nigerians to remain self-assured and sincerely believe that better times are ahead for the nation.
The President urged Nigerians to celebrate the season with love, compassion, generosity, forbearance, and resilience.
Akin to this, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, celebrated Easter with Christians all throughout the nation this year.
As it commemorates Christ’s resurrection, Gbajabiamila appealed for serious thought among the Christian faithful and termed the day as extremely important.
He also urged Nigerians to live in peace “now and forever.”
Future Prospects
At the Vatican’s St. Peter’s Square, Pope Francis presided over Easter liturgy. The Pope did not, however, provide a homily during the ceremony. This is due to the fact that he already gave his reflections the previous evening.
Pope France stated at the Easter Vigil Mass that Christ’s Resurrection should inspire Christians to “leave behind our sense of defeat, to roll away the stone of the tombs in which we frequently imprison our hope, and to look with confidence to the future, for Christ is risen and has changed the course of history.”
The beauty of the moment when we recognized that Jesus was alive and we made Him the Lord of our lives, he added, must be brought back to life via the force of Easter, despite the tragic circumstances surrounding His death and resurrection.
