Governor Peter Mbah has called on Nigerians to embrace love, service and peaceful coexistence as Christians and Muslims commence the sacred seasons of Lent and Ramadan.
Speaking in Enugu on Ash Wednesday and later fielding questions from journalists after a Holy Mass at the Government House Chapel, the governor described the rare convergence of the two religious observances as a divine reminder of shared values.
According to him, despite differences in modes of worship, adherents of both faiths are united by common principles of sacrifice, compassion, faith and devotion to God.
“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 stated.
The governor further described Ash Wednesday and the Lenten season as a period of sober reflection and moderation, urging leaders and citizens alike to reassess their conduct.
“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,” he said.
In his homily, the Catholic Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Enugu, Most Reverend Calistus Onaga, urged Christians to remain committed to prayer, fasting and almsgiving, which he described as the three cardinal pillars of the Lenten season.
The simultaneous observance of Lent and Ramadan this year has drawn attention nationwide, with religious and political leaders calling for deeper interfaith harmony and national unity.
