BY CHIKA KWAMBA/JUDITH OBIANUA/PRINCE EJAKPOMEVI
As Christians across Nigeria prepare for the Easter celebration, many citizens have expressed mixed feelings over the festive period, citing growing insecurity and persistent power supply challenges as major concerns that may dampen the usual excitement associated with the season.
While Easter remains a significant religious celebration in Christendom, symbolising hope, sacrifice, and renewal, the current economic hardship, security threats, and electricity supply issues are making it difficult for families and businesses to celebrate as expected.
A Civil Servant, Mr Jude Oghenekaro, who spoke to our correspondent in an interview, said that insecurity and poor electricity supply have dampened the mood for the Easter Celebration.
“Easter, which is normally a period of joy, has turned into a period of sorrow and hardship. At the moment, people are afraid to travel because of insecurity and fear of being kidnapped, and the poor power supply is not helping matters, “he said.
Similarly, a trader, Mrs Charity Innone, described this period as a time for celebration regardless of the economic hardship faced in Nigeria. According to her, “Regardless of the economic hardship facing Nigeria, citizens must unite in the spirit of Easter, celebrate Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour, and seek His mercy and intervention to deliver the nation from its present challenges,” she said.
Another resident of Asaba, the Delta State capital, identified as Miss Joy Ozondu, said Easter remains a time of faith and hope despite the challenges. “We believe God will protect Nigerians. Easter is about sacrifice and resurrection, and we are praying for peace and better days ahead,” she said.
Also, a civil servant, Mr Prince Okonkwo, expressed concern over the worsening insecurity in Northern Nigeria, saying many citizens have lost confidence in the government’s ability to guarantee safety during the Easter period.
“People in the North are living in fear because banditry, kidnapping, and terror attacks are becoming the norm, and many Nigerians no longer have full confidence that the government can provide adequate security during festive periods. We can only hope that security agencies will do their best to protect lives and property,” he said.
According to the Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rev. Lucky Osagbakhoe, Easter brought hope to Christians. ‘’Easter reminds us of a memorable event that took place two thousand years ago when Jesus rose triumphantly from the grave, when he conquered the power of death.
‘’It also reminds us of the future hope and a blessed resurrection. Every Christian should be hopeful, regardless of the present challenges in the country today; there will be a better tomorrow because Christ Jesus lives. Let Nigerians keep their hope alive and continue trusting God; there will surely be a better and more glorious Nigeria than what we are seeing today.
‘’Easter marks the resurrection of Christ from the dead. It is the heart of Christian faith; without Easter, there will be no Christianity. If Jesus had not risen from the dead, there would have been no hope and no forgiveness of sins. Jesus offered himself as a living sacrifice for the remission of our sins, and also, when we die, we will rise again with him in his glory. Christ paid the price to deliver us from the grip of sin so we can have eternal life’’ he said.
Speaking with another respondent, Sophia Gideon, she said the Easter celebration this year for her is to thank God for the gift of life. ‘’Considering what is happening recently, food prices have automatically increased in the market due to the increase in fuel prices. Transportation is also high. The poor masses are suffering.
‘’An average Nigerian cannot afford one chicken in the market because it is expensive; the least you can get is ₦10,000. The most important or the basic key here is that Easter gives us hope. No matter how terrible the night may be, there must be morning. The Holy Bible tells us in the book of Psalms that sorrow lasts for a night, but Joy comes in the morning.
‘’Early this year, there was jubilation that the price of foodstuffs in the market was gradually dropping, but to our greatest surprise, it rocketed high again and is still increasing. We are hoping and believing in God for a better Nigeria.’’
Also, Jude Okafor describes this year’s Easter as “Na God hand Nigeria de”, Meaning Nigeria is in the hands of God. ‘’The increase in fuel price threw everyone into confusion. Imagine buying a litre of fuel for over a thousand naira. You fuel your car; also, fuel your generator. You also buy foodstuffs. House rent in Asaba is so high. The hospital and light bills are waiting.
‘’The worst of it all is the light issue; we barely use it, and yet we still pay for it. Light comes once in three months or thereabout, and we are compelled to pay. We need God’s intervention in this country. People are dying of hunger. Look at the street, people begging for help because there is no job, young people committing crimes, which is why I said earlier, we are in God’s hands. Easter calls for celebration, and we will continue to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ regardless of the challenges we are facing today, Christ is our hope’’ he said.
From Lagos, a chandelier dealer, Chukwuemeka Okeke, made a clear instance stating that when Muslims celebrated Eid al-Fitr, the country was faced with insecurity, killing, kidnapping, protest, no light, and a fuel hike.
“Now, we are celebrating Easter, and the current situation of the country has not stopped. We equally use this moment to reflect on our lives, pray for the country, ask God for divine intervention, blessings, and guidance. So I believe the celebration is quite needed at this moment.
Also, according to Treasure Bafuere, ‘’Jesus’ death and resurrection celebration has nothing to do with Nigeria’s situation, although Christians across the nation can cry out for help, seek global attention, and sympathy towards the killings of Christians in Plateau and other parts of the country. But as Christians, we must learn to celebrate the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, regardless of the ugly situation.’’
In Asaba, Mr Ubaka Okoro noted that the celebration and the resurrection of Jesus Christ is a profound moment in the Christian faith, which, he said, holds that Jesus’ triumph over death signifies hope, victory over trials, and the promise of redemption, even in the midst of suffering and hardship.
‘’In the context of Nigeria’s current challenges, including insecurity, the situation in Plateau State, and economic struggles, the worth and attention of the celebration are often debated between a purely spiritual perspective and a practical, socio-political one:
‘’A message of hope for many, Easter is seen as a crucial time for spiritual renewal and the strengthening of faith, which offers comfort and hope to the weary.
‘’Also, religious leaders often emphasise that Christ’s resurrection symbolises light over darkness, encouraging Nigerians to endure hardship while maintaining hope that trials have an expiration date.
‘’They also hold that the celebration brings communities together, promoting values of love, sacrifice, and forgiveness, principles argued to be essential for social cohesion in difficult times,’’ he said.
He observed that many Nigerians feel that in the face of profound insecurity and hardship, messages of comfort are not enough. ‘’There are strong calls for leaders to take action through tangible, life-changing policies, rather than just spiritual messages.
‘’Additionally, the worth of the celebration is linked by many to whether political leaders take this time to exhibit the sacrifice and selflessness that Christ exemplified, rather than living in luxury while the populace suffers.’’
He said, ‘’Christian leaders themselves have used the Easter season to call for a state of emergency on security, demanding that the government act decisively to secure lives, particularly in troubled regions like Plateau State.
In conclusion, the celebration is seen as highly valuable for the inner strength it provides to millions of Christians. However, its relevance in the national spotlight is often viewed through the lens of whether it sparks a renewal of character and action aimed at tackling the nation’s severe challenges.
From Port-Harcourt, Engr Princewill Okpara argued that there is no nexus between the Easter celebration and government responsibility. He said, The power/electric problem in Nigeria, the insecurity, and all that is happening is purely political, and most are even masterminded for selfish interest.
Okpara described Easter celebration as a religious belief to mark the resurrection of Jesus Christ, which is symbolic in the life of a Christian. ‘’Also, you and I know that Jesus did not actually die on Friday and didn’t resurrect on Sunday. Christians fixed this ceremony in memory of our Lord Jesus and the sacrifice he made for us.
‘’Now, looking at the above, you can see clearly that there is no connection to them and they are not related in any way because Christians will not say, ‘After all, there is insecurity, killings, abysmal power supply, etc., there won’t be Easter celebrations’ just to show they are not happy. Again, our pastors and bishops will only talk for a few hours, that’s for those who can talk and nothing else.
He further questioned the level of clergy participation in seeking solutions. “Have you ever seen them (pastors) come out and take the lead in a match against the woeful and untold hardship that is happening in society? All these are purely political, and I am of the school of thought that God does not interfere with the politics of men because the rules are made by man and man cannot make rules for God to follow, hence no matter how you pray in church for God to kill any ruler, my dear, it amounts to nothing.
‘’A public announcement should be made that every church should be shut down on Easter Day, and let all Christians do a peaceful protest around the nation to their state government houses. That way, they can get the attention of the government’’ he said.
