Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC) has called for national unity, sustained interfaith collaboration against terrorism as Lent and Ramadan commenced in a rare calendar alignment it described as “providential”.
The Executive Secretary of the commission (NCPC), Bishop Stephen Adegbite, made the call while speaking to journalists on his two-year anniversary in office, which also coincided with Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent.
Adegbite reflected on the spiritual significance of the day, emphasising humility, repentance and obedience.
According to him, Ash signifies humility, repentance and obedience, reminding Christians that they are from dust and one day they will return to dust as they wait on God in fasting for the next 40 days.
Quoting from the Book of Isaiah 40:31, he stressed the importance of spiritual dependence, noting that prayer and fasting remained the only source of strength.
He said that this year’s simultaneous commencement of Lent and Ramadan carried a powerful message for Nigeria and the world.
The clergyman said, “As a nation, God created us Christian, Muslim, and traditionalists. If God wants to make everybody to be one, worshiping the same religion, nobody can change it. But He has created us that way.
“Look at what the Lord has done today. We are starting Ramadan and Lent today. Before now, it used to be in between. But this year, it is not by accident. It is not coincidence. It is providential.
“That is a lesson to everybody in Nigeria and in the world that we must tolerate one another. We must live in peace. It is when you have peace that you can talk of progress and stability.
“It is when you have peace that you can talk of good relationship and that is what God has done for us today in the world today. Everybody is waiting upon God and it is going to renew our strength.”
Adegbite stressed the need for collaboration between NCPC and Hajj Commission to strengthen cooperation between the two faith-based government bodies.
“We are the two arms of government that deal with God. We must be the light in government. The two of us must work together in synergy,” he said.
He explained that closer coordination between NCPC and NAHCON would ensure harmonised requests to President Bola Tinubu describing improved synergy as critical for national cohesion.
Addressing the country’s security challenges, the executive secretary acknowledged ongoing killings across parts of Nigeria but insisted that the violence was not targeted at one faith alone.
“It is not only Christians. It affects Christians and Muslims alike. There is no religion that supports killing,” he said.
He identified extremist groups such as Boko Haram and Islamic State as the “common enemy,” describing them as forces that reject both Christian and Islamic teachings.
“The monster we have is Boko Haram. The monster we have is ISIS. The Monster is Lakurawa. They are not representing any religion,” he said, arguing that such groups thrive on bloodshed and do not reflect the doctrines of Islam or Christianity.
The NCPC boss also cautioned against external intimidation in Nigeria’s fight against insecurity, while welcoming constructive international collaboration with intelligence and security agencies.
“Nigeria is too big for anybody to run over. What happens in Nigeria affects not just Africa, but the world,” he said.
He further warned that insecurity could be exploited in an election year, adding that some actors within the political space may be sponsoring violence but would eventually be exposed.
Adegbite highlighted ongoing efforts by interfaith bodies such as the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC), which brings together Christian and Muslim leaders, including the Sultan of Sokoto and the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, to promote dialogue and peace.
“What is the essence of our meeting if we are not living in peace?” he asked.
Reiterating his mandate, he said part of the assignment given to him by the President was to remind Nigerians that unity remains the only path to progress.
“We need to be one for us to move forward. This killing must stop, whether Christian or Muslim. Without peace, we cannot move forward.”
