FCT residents mark Easter in low key

There were mixed feelings in Abuja on Sunday as Christians joined other faithful across the world in celebrating the Easter, an annual feast marking the end of 40 days lent period and the commemoration of death and resurrection of Jesus Christ as recorded in the Bible.

Unlike the usual fanfare associated with the celebrations of this magnitude, most residents, who spoke to City News, said they preferred to celebrate indoors, considering the recent bomb blast at Nyanya Motor Park.

Although residents expressed joy at the resurrection of Christ from death, they said the situation in the country called for sober reflection and not an elaborate celebration.

A resident of Wumba District of the Abuja Municipal Area Council, Jide Kayode said, “I wanted to hang out with friends to celebrate it but due to insecurity, I decided to stay within the neighbourhood.”

Meanwhile, the Jabi Lake was not devoid of life as some fun-seekers tried to enjoy the celebration to their satisfaction.

“I’m here with my whole family to catch fun in the spirit of Easter. Since we didn’t travel to the village, this is a place to have fun,” said a man who identified himself as Ekene as he boarded a flying boat with his family to have a tour of the Jabi Lake.

Fun-seekers were seen riding bicycles, horses, dancing and skating.

However, some of the traders there complained of low patronage as was the situation with Hassan Garba, who rents mats to visitors to the Lake.

“I’m yet to make half of the amount of money I usually make during celebrations like this. People are not coming as expected,” Garba said in Hausa language.

The situation at the Wonderland Garden close to the National Stadium was no different from that of Jabi Lake.

While many people were seen with their children enjoying the public holiday at the garden, it was not cramped as expected.

“People are coming, but not much,” said an operator of the artificial ship at the garden.

In the meantime, the officiating priest, who celebrated Easter Mass at St Theresa’s Catholic Church, Wumba, Rev. Father Emmanuel Onuma has called on Christians to emulate the virtues of the risen Christ which included selflessness and forgiveness.

He said the resurrection of Jesus Christ was the tripod upon which Christianity was built because if Christ did not rise from the dead, there would be no any gospel of salvation as recorded in the Bible.