Lent/Ramadan: Obi Urges Christians, Muslims To Pray Against Insecurity In Nigeria
By Sunday Etuka
As the Christian season of Lent and Muslim holy month of Ramadan began on the same day, the former governor of Anambra State, Mr Peter Obi, has urged Christian and Muslim faithful to intensify prayer against insecurity and economic hardship in the country.
Mr Obi said the rare spiritual convergence marks an extraordinary moment in Nigeria- a nation richly blessed by God with abundant resources, yet long hindered by poor leadership.
The former Presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 general elections who posted this on his official X handle on Wednesday said: “For the first time in many years, the Christian season of Lent and the Muslim holy month of Ramadan begin on the same day.
“This rare coincidence is far more than a meeting of dates; it is a powerful symbol of shared sacrifice, reflection, and the possibility of national renewal at a time when our collective identity has been strained by ineffective governance.
“It is striking that both sacred seasons are marked by fasting, prayer, and thanksgiving. We may therefore see this convergence as what might fittingly be called a “Double Fast” — a divine invitation to transcend our differences and rediscover our shared humanity.
“As millions of Nigerians — Christians and Muslims alike, from North to South — abstain from food and drink, or devote themselves to forty days of penance and prayer, we are united in a single purpose: to seek the mercy of the Almighty for the healing of our land.
“This rare coincidence, this shared season of fasting, calls for intensified prayer against the insecurity and economic hardship confronting our country,” he said.
Acknowledging that prayer alone was not enough, Obi said it must be paired with action.
“It urges us toward charity for the vulnerable, forgiveness of one another, and the self-discipline both faiths commend. Many will rightly see this period as a necessary spiritual reset for our troubled nation.
“Let this season become a time of deep spiritual engagement. May our hunger remind us of our neighbours’ suffering, and may our prayers stand as a shield over our nation. May our sacrifices be accepted, and may this unique alignment usher in a lasting era of peace and unity across Nigeria. A Holy Lent and Ramadan Kareem to all,” Obi wrote on his X handle.
