Ramadan, Lent: Shettima Calls For National Unity And Compassion

Vice President Kashim Shettima has called on Nigerians to use the concurrent observance of Ramadan and the Christian Lenten season to strengthen national unity and show practical compassion to fellow citizens.

In a statement issued on Thursday and signed by Stanley Nkwocha, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications (Office of the Vice President), the Vice President described the period as a time not only for spiritual renewal but also for collective nation-building, urging citizens to actively engage in addressing the country’s challenges.

He said the sacred month of Ramadan demands more than religious rituals.

“Let us not only feed the hungry, but uplift the weary; not only give charity, but extend kindness; not only pray for peace, but work for justice. This is the true essence of Ramadan,” he said.

Shettima described Ramadan as “a journey of the soul and a time for deep reflection, for self-purification, and for embracing the true essence of Islam—peace, patience, sacrifice, and service to humanity.”

The Vice President paid tribute to Nigeria’s religious leaders across faiths, describing them as “the moral and spiritual compass of the nation,” and acknowledged their role in shaping the country’s ethical foundation at a time when both major religious communities are engaged in spiritual disciplines.

He also called for prayers for national stability during the holy season, urging citizens to strengthen unity and reject divisive tendencies.

Shettima further requested prayers for Bola Ahmed Tinubu, asking for divine guidance to grant the President “wisdom, strength, and foresight to pilot the affairs of our great nation.”