Oneness in faith: Ramadan-Lent alignment should inspire progress – Cleric

The Waziri Kuliyyah of Ibadanland, Oyo State, Prof. Amidu Sanni, described the simultaneous commencement of Ramadan and Lent as a divine arrangement, emphasizing that it symbolizes the oneness of Nigeria’s two major religions and offers an opportunity for unity and collective development.

Sanni, a former Chief Imam at Lagos State University, said that such unity of purpose, bequeathed to humanity by the divine, should be encouraged in people’s relationships with others, irrespective of religious affiliation, to enhance national development.

He made the statement in his Ramadan message to Nigerians in Lagos State.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos reports that encouraging Nigerians to embrace religious co-existence promotes peace, with development as its outcome.
NAN also reports that the 2026 Muslim Ramadan fasting period and the Christian Lenten season both began on Wednesday.

The cleric said that the unison in the commencement of the Muslim Ramadan and Christian Lenten periods is not coincidental but reflects the institutional oneness preached in the divine message to humanity.

He decried religious intolerance in society, saying that a culture of religious harmony would, to a great extent, mitigate many of the nation’s social challenges and restore citizens’ focus on national interest.

According to him, the central lesson of Ramadan is the inculcation of total submission to Allah, self-restraint, and comprehensive discipline in personal and communal life.

“If one can abstain from ordinarily legitimate possessions—such as food, drinks, lawful partners, and from immoralities—without any human supervision or visible constraints for an entire month, it is expected that this month-long training should not only prepare us to avoid illegitimate things but also to make discipline a normal way of life.

“The deliberate avoidance of the normal routine of eating and drinking makes us appreciate the effect of hunger and deprivation on others.

“Eschewing immoralities during this period prepares society for the enthronement of decency and good governance.

“I appeal to Muslims, Christians, and all Nigerians to embrace mutual love and respect, and to support governments at all levels in ensuring a better life for everyone,” he said.

He added, “It is unfortunate that ordinary Nigerians have not felt the benefits of the recent fall in petroleum product prices, agricultural produce, and exchange rates.

“The cost of transportation, household expenses, and other essentials remains the same.

“The cut-throat scramble for the 2027 political offices has diverted attention from real governance and unduly raised political tensions, to the detriment of development and social cohesion.”

He lamented the rising insecurity in the country, noting that kidnappings and communal killings by criminals masquerading as religious actors affect all Nigerians, irrespective of their faith.

He urged governments at all levels to assist communities in protecting their lives and property.

He further stressed that holding state actors accountable is crucial in the spirit of Ramadan and Lent.

He prayed for the well-being of Nigeria and wished all the faithful a rewarding devotional season.