COVID-19: Easter celebration low key, Churches deserted in FCT

Abuja

For the time in living memory, Christians in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) marked Easter celebration, on Friday and Sunday without merriment due to the restriction order by the government to contain the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) in the territory.

Some churches, however, streamed their activities via satellite communications to members.

Duaglobalnews correspondent in Abuja reports that most churches were deserted as government remains resolute in ensuring that the lockdown to halt the spread COVID-19 is firmly enforced.

The online medium reports that Easter, the commemoration of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, was usually observed by Christian faithful with fun and funfair before now.

However,the Good Friday processions that traditionally enact the crucifixtion of Jesus Christ by devout Christians could not hold.

In the same vein, the usual morning celebration on Easter Sunday could not hold as well.

Many Christians who spoke with the online publication, attributed the low key nature of the 2020 Easter to the need by all and sundry to maintain scale down celebration, to check the spread of the disease, not in the FCT but Nigeria at large.

Some other Christians said they took solace in gluing to their televisions and other media channels with a view to knowing happening in the world, especially interms of Coronavrus pandemic.

Others said they celebrated the Easter by listening to radio and view live telecast by their pastors to celebrate Easter

However,it was not a dull moment all through as some Christians marked the festival by sharing food with the their neighbours to show appreciation to God for sparing their lives.

Some of the residents expressed delight and gratitude God for being alive, despite the trying moment in the territory and the world at large.

Some who expressed regret that they could not gather together with other Christians to celebrate the resurrection of Christ said they prayed against the coronavirus pandemic.

Meanwhile,President Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rev. Samson Ayokunle has called on Christians to continue to be optimistic toward life as they marked this year Easter celebration, even in low key.

Ayokunle made the call in a statement signed by his Special Assitant, Media and Communication, Pastor Adebayo Oladeji.

The cleric reminded the Christians that:“ There is no other time the hope of victory over circumstances of life, which Easter brings, is more relevant to human being than now.

“This is so when we are forced to celebrate Easter for the first time in over one hundred years in lockdown

“The Coronavrus distruption of human activities, however, cannot deter us from our joy and victory over all evils which Christ’s unique resurrection from the dead has brought to us.”

He noted that the period of the arrest, the trial, the sufferings of Christ, his eventual crucifixion and burial were not only those of pains and gloom to the Lord, but much more to His followers.

The CAN boss said the resurrection Jesus Christ, from the dead, had brought to the Christians period of arrest

“I am fully persuaded that very soon, coronavirus will become history and we shall have victory over it. Let us intensify prayers for a quick recovery, for as many that are recuperating from its attack,” he said.

Easter, also called Pascha (Greek, Latin) or Resurrection Sunday, is a festival and holiday commemorating the resurrection of Jesus from the dead.

It is described in the New Testament as having occurred on the third day after his burial, following his crucifixion by the Romans at Calvary c. 30 AD.