Easter: Yilwatda urges Nigerians to remain hopeful, pray for nation

By Emmanuel Mogbede

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, has charged Nigerians to remain hopeful, law-abiding, and committed to the task of building a secure, united and prosperous nation.

He gave the charge in his Easter message to Christians across Nigeria, issued late Sunday night in Abuja and signed by Mr. Abimbola Tooki, his Special Adviser on Media and Communications Strategy.

The APC national chairman urged all citizens to embrace the timeless values of sacrifice, hope, peace, love, and national unity as the country marked 2026 Easter celebration.

He described Easter as the cornerstone of the Christian faith and a season that reminded believers of the redemptive sacrifice, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

According to him, Easter is not only a period of celebration for Christians, but also a solemn moment of reflection on the deeper lessons of faith, resilience, forgiveness, humility, and hope in the face of adversity.

“Easter teaches us that sacrifice is the pathway to glory, that suffering is never the end of the story, and that with faith in God, hope can rise again even in difficult times,” he said.

The APC national chairman noted that the message of Easter remained profoundly relevant to Nigeria’s present realities.
He called on citizens to draw inspiration from the resurrection story and remain steadfast in faith and patriotism in spite of the challenges confronting the country.

Yilwatda urged Christians to use the Easter period to recommit themselves to the virtues of righteousness, compassion, unity, prayer, and service to humanity. He noted that the country needed men and women who would not only profess faith, but also live out its values in public and private life.

The party chairman expressed concern over the security challenges in parts of the country. He commiserated with families and communities affected by acts of violence, banditry, insurgency, kidnapping, and other forms of criminality.

Yilwatda stated that the pain and losses suffered by many Nigerians remained a source of collective national grief. He said it called for greater solidarity, vigilance, and cooperation among citizens.

According to him, it also calls for cooperation amongst institutions in the effort to restore peace and security across the country. He said that we must not allow fear, division, or despair to define us as a people.

Yilwatda said that citizens must stand together in unity, trusting God and supporting all lawful efforts aimed at restoring peace, order, and safety in the communities. He acknowledged the ongoing efforts of the administration of President Bola Tinubu in tackling insecurity and stabilising the country.

The party chairman noted that the Federal Government had continued to demonstrate commitment through strategic interventions, institutional reforms, and renewed support for the nation’s security architecture.

He urged continued collaboration among all levels of government, security agencies, community leaders, faith institutions, and citizens to ensure that peace, justice, and security prevailed across the federation.

The APC national chairman called on Nigerians to use the Easter season as an opportunity to pray for the nation. He implored them to pray for its leaders, security personnel, and all those who continued to bear the burden of national service.

“This is a time for prayer, reflection, and renewed hope; as Christians celebrate the resurrection of Christ, we must also pray for the renewal of our nation. We should pray for healing where there is pain, peace where there is conflict, and hope where there is despair,” he said.

He expressed confidence that with faith in God, responsible leadership, and collective commitment to national unity and progress, Nigeria would overcome its present challenges and emerge stronger. Yilwatda wished Christians a peaceful and spiritually fulfilling Easter celebration.