President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan and the Kwara State Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed, have urged Christians to pray for the peace of the country during the Lent.
Jonathan, according to a statement by his spokesperson, Dr. Reuben Abati, felicitated with Christians in the country “as they begin the observance of Lent for the year 2012.”
Jonathan said considering that the dominant feature of the 40-day period between Ash Wednesday and Easter Sunday is constant prayers, penitence, fasting and self-denial, Christians in Nigeria should pray fervently for greater peace, security and progress in the country.
The statement by Abati reads further: “The President also urges the Christian community to reflect deeply during the period on the virtues and ideals of human existence exemplified by the ministry of Jesus Christ on earth. He calls on Christians to commit themselves to making those virtues, including brotherly love, tolerance, humility, service to others, honesty, fairness and equity more manifest in their daily lives.
“He prays that God Almighty will answer the prayers of all Nigerians and bless the country with continued unity and rapid development.”
In his own message, signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Abdulwahab Oba, Ahmed urged Christians to use the occasion to pray for the sustenance of the country’s growing democracy, peace and unity.
He urged all Nigerians to genuinely return to God in order for the nation to overcome the current socio-economic and security challenges.
He said the Lenten season was meant to inculcate moral discipline in Christians, who are also expected to reflect on the sufferings of Jesus Christ to help them have a change of heart and complete repentant.
Ahmed enjoined family heads to make sufficient provision for their households during the Lenten period, pointing out that bountiful blessings awaits them from God their creator.
He also advised all wealthy Christians to appreciate the pains of hunger by donating generously to the less privileged during the 40 days fasting, noting that the reward for this is enormous in the holy month.
Ahmed congratulated the Christian community in the state for being alive to witness the commencement of the Lenten period and reminded them that whatever good deeds they do in the holy month would be rewarded in multiple folds.
He thanked Christians in the state for the peaceful coexistence with other religion adherents and urged them to remain steadfast in the prayers for the growth and development of the state, promising that government shall remain upright, honest and God fearing in its dealings with all.