The Easter celebration is a string of four days, starting with Good Friday and climaxing with Good Monday.
The Sunday in-between is typically considered the peak celebration in recognition of the resurrection of Jesus Christ and its significance to the body of Christ.
Christians around Ikorodu on Sunday went to their various churches in the morning in their colourful and stylish attires with smiles on their faces as they sang and worshipped God for the gift of his son, Jesus Christ, whose purpose on Earth was consummated by his resurrection on the third day.
For Wale Adebayo, a resident and a father of four, Easter is the backbone of Christianity and, as such, deserves celebration.
He said that for him, the celebration started on Thursday, when the Lord Jesus Christ washed the feet of his disciples in the Upper Room.
“Easter is the celebration of our faith. The death and resurrection of Jesus Christ Easter is the backbone of Christianity. It gives us hope that Jesus is coming back. The celebration is to always remind ourselves of the love of God towards mankind. He has come to save us.”
“For me, the celebration of Easter started on Thursday with the washing of feet. Then, I observed the death of Jesus on Friday with prayers because that was the time he was killed.
“Then on Saturday, it was strictly prayers. Then today is a mass of thanksgiving to him for his love for us, which he demonstrated by paying for our sins.
“We celebrate by sharing food with people. The family comes together from far and wide, we eat, and then we will pray at the end,” Adebayo said.
Resonating with Adebayo on the essence of the season, Jonathan Aigbe, a resident of Odogunyan, asserted that the season is a reminder of Jesus Christ and the love he stands for.
He remarked that, as far as he is concerned, Easter is the premium celebration in the Christian faith, and admonished all Christians to accord it due celebration because Christ had risen.
Dolapo Adedolapo, a student of Yabatech who lives with her parents in the Itamaga area of Ikorodu, had her Easter celebration planned out, with the highlight being the film show her church was putting together.
Her words, “Well, I go to church in an Easter mood. Go back home at noon to celebrate with my family, and then come back to church in the evening, for we’ll be having a film show by then.”
A glance around some restaurants in the afternoon around the Ikorodu Garage, Benson and First Gate saw some people prancing in and out, ordering their choice foods, unlike some other seasons’ celebrations where you find a crowd of people-married and single, family members-making merry in the season with music baring from speakers.
Speaking to a resident, Shola Ogundimu, about the observed low turnout, he said, “There is no money, unlike last year. Everybody is in their house celebrating it with the little they have.
“Last year, this place was bubbling with people and tents outside, but this year, nothing of the sort.”
In commemoration with the people of Ikorodu and Nigerians, by extension, the Head Pastor of Destiny Sanctuary, Agbede, and also the Chairman of the Christian Coalition for Good Governance, Apostle Ofonime Emmanuel Bassey, urged Christians to recall Christ and all he stood for as much as they celebrate.
Apostle Bassey recalled the imminence of the 2023 elections and the role Christians have to play in it as exemplary of Christ and what he stood for.
He said, “We should show love and tolerance for one another just as Christ did during his time, and today, marking his resurrection, reinforces the message of tolerance and love.”
Most especially, considering the fact that we are drawing closer to the 2023 elections, we should eschew communication laced with violence. We should embrace non-violent communication that promotes peace and unity and ensures sustainable development in our community and nation at large.”
I will also advise all Christians to do the needful and take advantage of the ongoing voter registration to get their voter card, and those who want to change their location should also do so, and contribute their quota to governance as expected of Christians.”
