TheCable

Hyacinth Alia, governor of Benue, has felicitated with Christians on the celebration of Easter.

In a statement by Tersoo Kula, his media aide, Alia described the festive period “as a feast and festival of triumph of faith over fear”.

“In these difficult times, the example set by our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ — the pain, the sacrifice, the triumph and the message of love and hope echo with timeless resonance,” he said.

“Easter is a feast and festival of triumph of faith over fear. It follows the holy season of Lent during which as Christians we fast, pray and spread the gospel of love.”

He called on residents of the state to continue to imbibe the lessons of sacrifice, care for the needy, deep spiritual reflection and love for all humankind, irrespective of tribe, religion or sect.

“Easter symbolizes the triumph of faith over despair and an affirmation that weeping may endure for a night but joy comes in the morning,” he added.

“Jesus set a prime example of sacrifice that has continued to resonate with people of all races, class and creed through the ages. It is this type of self-sacrifice that we must make if we must move our dear state forward.

“As a government, we recognize the difficulties our people now face in trying to live from day to day and make ends meet. But we must not falter. More than ever before, we must show resilience in weathering the storm of hardship and in a recessive economy.

“We face challenges on many fronts. Insecurity is widespread even as the masses of our people continue to be internally displaced. Hunger is a big menace due to acute food shortages. We must tackle these problems long and hard. And just like Jesus triumphed, we too shall overcome.

“We remain committed in our vision to take the state out of the woods and cater to the needs of all our teeming citizens irrespective of religion or political affiliation.”

Alia prayed that the blessings and lessons of Easter will spread throughout the state.