Today is Ash Wednesday. Often called the Day of Ashes, Ash Wednesday begins the Lenten season by concentrating the hearts of Christians on repentance and prayer, usually through personal and sectarian confessions.
Celebrated in the seventh week before Easter, the occasion is marked with Holy Mass and divine service. Ash Wednesday is named for either "repent and believe in the gospel" or the saying: "Remember that you are dust and in dust you will return".
The ashes are prepared by burning palm leaves from last year's Palm Sunday celebrations. On Palm Sunday, churches bless and hand out palm branches to attendees, a reference to the Gospel's account of Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem, when spectators lay palm branches on their way.
In ancient times ashes were used to express sorrow for sorrows, sins and vices. The practice of using the ashes is also an outward sign of repentance, fasting, reflection and ultimately celebration.
During a mass or worship service, the priest will usually share a sermon that is austere and contemplative in nature. The mood is serious and characterizes the responsible way of scripture.
However, after all the ceremonies, the congregation will be invited to receive the ashes on their foreheads which symbolize death and repentance. Ash equals dust and human flesh is made of dust and when human corpse decomposes, it turns back into dust or ashes.
Therefore, as we celebrate Ash Wednesday with calm reflection, we must also take into account the mood of the state of Ambara and the nation. On March 17, 2022, Governor Willy Obiano (Akpokuedike) will hand over the reins of leadership to Professor Chukuma Solud CFR (Dyke Udo Isuofia); Everything is happening in this holy period. Undoubtedly this is a divine coincidence. While the citizens of the state are warming up to welcoming the new administration, we must not ignore the myriad challenges looming over the nation's airspace.
Today, Nigeria is synonymous with insecurity, while ritual murders, kidnappings and other criminal tendencies are daily occurrences. This does not bode well for a country that prides itself as the policeman of Africa.
The need of the hour is that the nation should come together and pray for peace. We must use the solemn occasion of Ash Wednesday to emphasize the things that bind us together and shun all areas of friction and political bigotry in order to be stronger as a nation.
Ash Wednesday should give us a golden opportunity to pray for the success of the handover ceremony in Anambra State as well as for the peace, unity, progress and development of Nigeria.
This would, no doubt, prompt Professor Soludo to elevate the kingdom to the status of Dubai or the Japan of Africa. Anambra State is a bed of roses for industrialization. The Nadi Anambra, including traditional rulers, clergy, and community leaders, must come together in prayer, fasting and constant prayer to God.
As we mark this year's Ash Wednesday today, Nadi Umbra must remember the administration coming in prayer. It is a season when we must purify our hearts, control our desires and grow in purity.
Let us use this period to pray for the successful handing over of the government to the incoming governor, Professor Chukuma Soludo, from Governor Willy Obiano and for the end of all social ills in Nigeria. Lord, keep hearing our prayers.