BY SAM EYOBOKA & OLAYINKA LATONA

DESPITE the security challenges facing the nation, Nigerian Christians have vowed to celebrate the resurrection of the proginator of the Christian faith, Jesus Christ who was crucified on Good Friday and rose again from dead on Easter Day as they join the rest of the world to mark Easter.

Many Christians worldwide celebrate Easter with special church services, music, candlelight, flowers and the ringing of church bells. Easter processions are held in some countries as they view Easter as the greatest feast of the Church year.

It is a day of joy and celebration to commemorate that Jesus Christ is risen, according to Christian belief. It is one of the most festive events among Christians worldwide. It commemorates Jesus Christ’s resurrection from death, as written in the New Testament of the Christian Bible.

According to the Gospel of John in the New Testament, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb where Jesus was buried and found it empty. An angel told her that Jesus had risen.

Today, in Nigeria, Christians will mark the day with mixed feelings as very many of them are in deep mourning following several terrorist attacks in different parts of the country. Violence has increased in North Eastern region since the beginning of the year, including a high-profile attack on a boarding school in Yobe, which saw dozens of students slaughtered in their beds.

Over 100 persons died and another 245 injured last Monday in a bomb attack that rocked the crowded Nyanya Bus terminus at about 6.45 a.m. No fewer than 16 luxury buses, 24 other vehicles were burnt in that attack. Twenty four hours after that incident, some unidentified gunmen abducted over 247 female students of Government Secondary School, Chibok in Borno State after killing a security personnel suspected to be a soldier man.

While several injured persons in the Abuja bomb attack are asking to public-spirited individuals to come over to Macedonia to help them pay their bills; controversy still trails the kidnap of the young girls as government officials continue to embarrass the nation singing discordant tunes while parents and relations wallow in pain and anguish waiting unend for their wards.

A very grim picture of the situation reveals that between January and March this year, more than 1,000 people have been killed by this militant sect while 249,446 persons have been displaced. It must be noted that one in five of the total population are not living in their own homes.

Which is why most Easter messages this year focused attention on the security situation with many clerics calling on the Federal Government to do everything within its power to address the situation squarely.

Prelate, Methodist Church Nigeria, His Eminence Samuel Chukwuemeka Kanu Uche described the level of insecurity in the country as alarming “which is why it has become imperative for each and everyone of us to be extra vigilant and security conscious because Government alone cannot be left with that responsibility.

“For our country to fulfill her dreams, take her place of pride in the comity of Nations and for us as individuals to attain our goals and aspirations, we must recognise and embrace the significance of His sacrificial death for us on the cross and His resurrection.

“As we journey through this very crucial and important moment of our national history, I use this opportunity to remind us that our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ died on account of the sins of humankind, including ours today, and He rose for the redemption of history, including our own. So my message today is intended especially for peoples and communities who are undergoing a time of suffering, that the Risen Christ may open up for them the path of freedom, justice and peace. May the splendour of Christ reach the peoples of every part of this country, so that the light of peace and of human dignity may overcome the darkness of division, hate and violence.

“In the current conflict confronting us, may diplomacy and dialogue take the place of arms and may those who suffer as a result of the conflict be given comfort. In every part of this country, may all citizens, especially young people, work to promote the common good and to build a society where poverty is defeated and every political choice is inspired by respect for the human person.

“May peaceful coexistence be restored among the peoples of this country especially in the Northern parts where there is an urgent need to tread the path of reconciliation and pardon, in order to heal the deep wounds caused by the recent violence,” he stated.

“May the peoples affected find consolation and hope as they face the dramatic consequences of the recent attacks which have sown pain and anguish. May heaven and earth rejoice at the witness of those who suffer opposition and even persecution for their faith in Jesus Christ. May the proclamation of his victorious resurrection deepen their courage and trust,” Uche added.

Catholic prelate tasks Confab delegates

Catholic Archbishop of Lagos, His Grace Alfred Adewale Martins has called on delegates to the ongoing national conference to ensure they put the interests of the nation over and above parochial tribal, ethnic and religious sentiments.

In his Easter message signed by the Director of Social Communications, Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos, Monsignor Gabriel Osu, Archbishop Martins said it would be most un-fortunate if at the end of the day the confab fails to move the nation forward despite the enormous resources it has gulped.

According to him, the confab offers a veritable opportunity for all segments of the country to dialogue on the way forward for the country and to address the lopsided political, social and economic structures which have often favoured a few over the majority of the people.

“I am happy that the confab is now on despite initial setbacks experienced. I believe it is a window of opportunity for us as a nation to get it right.

“For the past 100 years that we have been living together, so much water has passed under the bridge. We seem not to have gotten it right. So, I want to call on all the delegates to use this opportunity to ensure that we get it right this time. There are so many issues to be discusses. There is the issue of insecurity, the right form of government we should practice, resource control, equality and justice, etc.

“One only hopes that our representatives there would rise above primordial interest and work for the overall good of Nigerians,” he said.

While wishing all Nigerians a happy Easter celebration, the Prelate condemned the spate of ritual killings in the country, especially the cases reported in Ibadan, Abuja and Abeokuta, called on all to prayerful and alert at all times in order not to fall prey to the hands of evil men.

“In this season when we celebrate the risen Lord, I want to call on all Nigerians not to relent in their prayers for peace in our country. There is no doubt that perpetrators of evil activities are on

the prowl, but we should not be discouraged. Rather, we should move closer to Jesus for he alone can protect us from the snares of the evil ones,” he stated.

In the spirit of the season, the founder of Holy Ghost Sabbath Mission, Pastor Peter Amasiatu called on both Christians and Muslims in the country to embrace peace and unity for the country to experience progress.

Speaking during the church’s Feast of Passover and Unleavened Bread, Pastor Amasiatu said Nigerians needed to live peacefully with one another and pray for the country’s peace and unity. The minister of God advised Christian leaders to fear God, preach more on holy living, unite and stop discriminating, explaining that God is not God of confusion.

He also advised government officials to desist from looting the nation’s reasury, adding that such exercise only hampers the development of the country, pointing out that leaders should abide by the oath they took after being elected and take care and always provide for the welfare of the masses.

On insecurity, Amasiatu said Nigerians should be security conscious, vigilant and report any unusual movement within their vicinity. He called on the Federal government to strengthen the the security forces in the county praying that the issue of insecurity will soon be a thing past in the history of the country.

“What is happening in Nigeria presently is beyond human knowledge. It is only the hand of God can deliver us,” he said, explaining that Christians ought to celebrate the feast of Passover and Unleavened Bread and not Easter, saying it was the Roman Empire that changed the Passover celebration to Easter celebration.

In his words: “Passover is a time of remembering the day God set the children of Israel free from the land of slavery. Passover is only 24 hour period while Feast of Unleavened Bread lasts for seven days. It is also a time of remembrance for the Sabatarian when we gain our freedom from spiritual enemy because we are no longer in Egypt and Christ Jesus died in this same period. Before Christ died he instructed us to do it in His remembrance”

Daystar gives out food items to over 2000

The Benevolence Unit of Daystar Christian Centre, Lagos gave out food items to thousands of people on Saturday in commemoration of this year’s Easter celebrations.

While ministering to the people on behalf of the Senior Pastors, Sam and Nike Adeyemi, an associate of the church, Pastor Lawrence Oladele encouraged participants who had come for special Open Day tagged ‘Love at Easter’, to be of good cheer because they have secured destinies in Christ Jesus. “God loves you and He is very interested in giving you a better life, only if you would commit your life to Him,” he admonished.
Mr. Akin Ademosu, head of the Benevolence Unit, reiterated that the project is simply one of the means through which the church exemplifies its message of love to the society at large.

TAC stages musical concert

It was time of celebration, joy and musical fiesta as choristers of The Apostolic Church, national headquarters in Ebute-Metta, Lagos thrilled the audience a series of melodious songs ranging from hymnal, blues and natives.
Themed: “He’s Alive” both the Orchestra and Choir of the Church treated guests to brilliant performances of classical and local pieces meant to bring to light the true essence and reason for the season.

The choir all clad in navy blue suits and white shirts for men and navy blue jacket, inner white top and navy blue skirt for women, entertained guests with several soul-searching inspirational rhythms and local renditions to the glory of the living King. For more than three hours, the choristers treated guests to the best of golden tunes accompanied by soul-lifting sounds from keyboards, trumpet, talking drum, percussion and voice in their varieties which comprised of soprano, treble, alto, tenor and base.

Some of the songs rendered included, He’ Never Late, Jesu Olugbala Mi, Emi Mimo, It is my Turn to Shine, God Be Praised, Oro mi ti di Ijo and several others.

The highpoint of the concert was the presentation and rendition of He’s Alive, a song that was rendered with all enthusiasm. It was composed and lead by the church Organist, Kayode Ajetunmobi, a song that told the story of the crucification and resurrection of Jesus Christ in a simple form. The song dramatised the story of Jesus’ agony on the way of the cross taking the audience through the story of the crucifixion.

Appreciating the church and the invited guests, the Choirmaster, Elder Rufus Ayodele said that the musical concert is one of the several programmes organised by the church to remind the people about the second coming of Jesus Christ and live Godliness life.