President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday described the simultaneous commencement of Lent and Ramadan as a rare occurrence, urging Nigerians to draw lessons of unity, sacrifice and peaceful coexistence from the two sacred seasons.
In a message marking the beginning of the Christian Lenten season and the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, Tinubu said the coincidence of the observances underscored the shared values between adherents of the two faiths.
“This year, Lent and Ramadan begin on the same day. This is not a common occurrence, and it reminds us that as a people of faith, we share a lot in common and are one people under God,” the President said.
He extended greetings to Christian and Muslim faithful, describing both periods as solemn moments of deep spiritual reflection and devotion.
According to him, Lent represents a time of fasting, abstinence and penitence for Christians, patterned after the example of Jesus Christ in the wilderness before His crucifixion.
For Muslims, he noted, Ramadan is a sacred month of total submission to God, marked by sacrifice, devotion, service, communal love and giving, in line with one of the five pillars of Islam.
“Beyond the obligatory fasting, Ramadan calls for deep spiritual reflection in obedience to Islam’s injunctions,” Tinubu stated.
The President charged Nigerians to use the periods to promote good neighbourliness and strengthen national cohesion amid prevailing socio-economic and security challenges.
“As a nation and as a people, I urge us, as we embark on these important observances, to ensure good neighbourliness, promote peace, unity, and stability, and pray for the progress and security of our nation,” he said.
Tinubu further admonished citizens to live by the noble precepts of their respective faiths and remain honourable in their duties to God and humanity.
He expressed hope that the lessons and blessings of the sacred seasons would endure beyond the period of observance, fostering harmony and collective responsibility among Nigerians.
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