By Dada Ahmed in Lokoja.
As the scorching sun bore down on Lokoja for weeks, residents had only one wish ahead of May Day: a break from the blistering heat. That wish was granted in the early hours of Thursday, as a gentle but steady rainfall swept across Lokoja , the Kogi State capital, offering much-needed relief and a touch of hope.
The rain, which began just before dawn, came as thousands of workers prepared for the annual May Day celebration at the Buhari Civic Centre, Lokoja.
Ready with banners in hand and demands for better welfare on their minds, many workers saw the downpour as more than a change in weather, they saw it as a blessing.
“I stepped outside and felt the rain on my skin, and I just said, ‘Thank you, God. “It’s not just about the heat. For us, this rain feels like a sign of hope for the better conditions we’ve been praying for,”said Aisha Abdullahi, a civil servant who lives in Gadumo Quarters of Lokoja.
For weeks, Lokoja has sweltered under a heatwave that disrupted daily life, strained tempers, and made sleep difficult.
Other workers hope that the morning rain brought not only cooler temperatures but also a symbolic start to what many of them pray will be a season of renewed attention to their demands by the state government.
“Rain on a day like this? That’s nature speaking,” said another worker.Maybe this is the beginning of something good,”Mohammed Aliyu, said, beaming with an infectious smile
Our correspondent reports that as of 7:30 a.m., the rain died down with persistent reminder to humanity that even small mercies from the sky can spark big hopes on the ground.
