Ramadan and Lent: A Test of Nigeria’s Unity
Ramadan and Lent: A Test of Nigeria’s Unity
Muyiwa Adetiba
Ramadan and Lent began on the same day last week, a rare convergence in a country that openly prides itself on religion. For Muslims and Christians, these are sacred seasons defined by fasting, repentance and intense prayer. Both periods demand sacrifice and self-denial. Both urge believers to seek God more earnestly and to extend compassion to the poor and vulnerable, regardless of faith. Hunger has no religion. Poverty carries no creed.
The coincidence comes at a tense moment for Nigeria. Communities are strained. Suspicion runs deep. In some cases, violence is justified in the name of faith. The parallel start of these holy seasons should remind the nation that God is not divided. The call to love one’s neighbor is central to both Islam and Christianity. Worship that breeds hatred contradicts the very essence of faith.
Across the country, churches were filled on Ash Wednesday. Many received ashes on their foreheads, observing a ritual that speaks to humility and mortality. Ash symbolizes transformation. It reduces all things to sameness. It reminds humanity of life’s brevity and the futility of material obsession. If even a fraction of worshippers internalized that message of repentance and detachment, Nigeria’s moral climate would improve.
Nigeria’s public display of religion is unmistakable. Mosques overflow during Ramadan. Churches swell during Lent. Yet the nation struggles with corruption, nepotism and injustice. Faith is often proclaimed loudly, but ethical conduct remains weak. Increasingly, religious sentiment competes with constitutional order, and national unity risks being overshadowed by sectarian loyalty.
Policy decisions have deepened the debate. In Kano State, authorities announced the closure of event centers and entertainment venues during Ramadan. Similar actions in parts of the North have previously included school closures affecting non-Muslims. Such unilateral moves raise questions about accommodation in a multi-religious society. Nigeria’s diversity demands sensitivity, not compulsion.
ALSO READ: Church Expels Bride Over Refusal To Consummate Marriage
The holy season also presents a challenge to those who perpetrate violence under religious banners. If businesses can close and elections be debated because of Ramadan, can guns not fall silent for the same reason? Ramadan is one of Islam’s core pillars, promoting charity and self-restraint. History records moments when conflicts paused during sacred periods. Nigerians can reasonably hope for restraint now.
Leadership remains central to any transformation. Many political leaders publicly profess deep faith. This season offers an opportunity to demonstrate it through transparent governance and fairness. A leadership that truly fears God would prioritize justice, equity and national cohesion. Religion is not Nigeria’s primary problem unless it is manipulated. Corruption, ethnic favoritism and impunity remain the deeper threats. The simultaneous observance of Ramadan and Lent should be more than a calendar event. It is a call to unity and tolerance. Both faiths affirm one sovereign God who values sincerity over show. If God answers prayers without bias, Nigerians must mirror that fairness in public and private life. A holy season alone cannot cleanse a nation, but changed hearts can lay the foundation for a better country. Content Credit: Amosun Azeez
Image Credit:Google.com
