Today is Easter, a day when Christians all over the world commemorate the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is a pivotal festival in the Christian calendar and an occasion for sober reflection on man’s mission on earth. It is a season of eternal hope, love, spiritual transformation, sacrifice and prayers.

Being the most important festival in Christendom, Easter happens to be a season to remember the poor and the needy. Just as Christ died on the cross to liberate mankind, Christians are expected to sacrifice a lot in pursuit of peace, love, and the brotherhood of man.

Christ’s crucifixion was the ultimate sacrifice, which He had to pay for the sins of man. His resurrection signifies victory over death, the forgiveness of sins and the promise of eternal life. It validates His identity as the son of God and saviour and guarantees believers of the triumph of life over death and good over evil.

Besides, His resurrection is the cornerstone of the Christian faith. It is the greatest of miracles that He died and rose from death after three days. This gives Christians hope that the pain and sorrows of this world will pass away and they are assured of eternal life that will free them from unnecessary worries and fears. Jesus Christ assured Martha at the tomb of Lazarus in John 11:25-26: “I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me will live even though they die.” This gives meaning to the prayers of believers. It makes them believe that a supreme being is in heaven and is hearing their prayers.

Beyond the earthly needs, Easter reminds us that this world is not our home. Jesus Christ died to free mankind from the original sin. But there are many people who believe that everything begins and ends in this world. Hence, they focus mainly on dubious worldly acquisitions without minding that such things are all vanity.

Just as Christ died so that mankind may be forgiven, Christians are enjoined to also forgive others and help to bring peace to the world. Being a season of love, Easter serves as a reminder to Christians to love one another as Christ loves them. It is only true love that can bring genuine peace to families, nations and the entire world.

The world today is in turmoil. The war between Russia and Ukraine is still on-going. Thousands of souls have perished in that war. A few weeks ago, the United States and Israel attacked Iran and killed thousands of people, including Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and many senior members of the Iranian leadership.

Iran retaliated by firing missiles and drones on US bases in many Arab nations. This has brought untold hardship in the world. The shutdown of the Strait of Hormuz has orchestrated energy crisis in the world, including Nigeria. Many people are stranded in the Middle East and thousands of people have been killed, including 175 innocent Iranian schoolgirls and staff.

This has further affected the cost of living in Nigeria and elsewhere. The price of a litre of fuel has risen sharply to over N1,300 in many places. Before now, it was below N1,000 a litre. This has a spiral effect on the prices of other essential commodities, particularly food items. Many people are hungry and cannot afford even a meal a day. Over 141 million Nigerians live in abject poverty.

Maternal and child deaths are on the rise, as many Nigerian children die before the age of five. Over two million of them suffer from acute malnutrition. Millions of others are stunted. Severe child food poverty is real as it reportedly affected 11 million Nigerian children under five in 2024. This season calls for assistance for such people.

In Nigeria today, banditry has become a lucrative business venture for a lot of young men. They kidnap and maim fellow citizens just for money. Their demand for ransom is in hundreds of millions of naira. Those who are not able to meet their outrageous demands are killed. This has made Nigeria the fourth most terrorised country in the world. In this season, those who indulge in this type of behaviour are enjoined to have a change of heart.

With faith and hope, the Christian faithful are reminded through the resurrection of Jesus Christ that no matter the enormity of challenges they may face, it is certain that God will never abandon them. Jesus Christ is the light of the world. He overcame death and there is nothing those who have faith in Him cannot overcome.

We rejoice with Nigerian Christians on this joyous occasion and urge them to emulate the life of Jesus Christ. We call on political leaders to attend to the needs of the people. Let there be security during and after the celebrations. We wish our Christian brothers and sisters a happy Easter celebration!

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