From Charity Nwakaudu, Abuja
In spite of the economic crunch, residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) are determined to celebrate Valentine’s Day, which falls on the same day as Ash Wednesday, signalling the beginning of Lent.
For a civil servant with Federal Medical Centre, Wuse, Chilex Urji, it is mixed feelings as he said due to the economic situation, some Nigerians may have deleted the Valentine’s Day celebration from their minds: “This present administration is not even concerned with Valentine’s Day.
“There is nothing like that again. Most of us are even finding it very difficult to feed our households. There is nothing like love again. Before now, you would see couples hanging out at recreation centres with their wards. But now, very few are there.
“Thank God it is even Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent. I will be in the church mediating from morning till the next day. I will take permission from my boss for that very day.
“It is not like I don’t want to cool off but no source. I am very ready and available for any babe that can afford to settle the bills for the day because with what is happening now. It’s like women are on the better side; my thinking, though.”
Another resident, a salesgirl in Jabi District of the city, Susan Ameh, said she is not going to celebrate any Val because she is alone for now.
According to her, she hasn’t recovered from the shock she received from her boyfriend during the Christmas celebration: “I don’t know whether to say that men are wicked or the economic situation changed them.
“My friend stopped picking my calls from December 18 last year when I asked for money. Even when I went to his house on several occasions he hid himself. He only called me last month with fake explanations. I have decided to stay on my own.
“The Valentine’s Day celebration is going to be a very low one for me. I think I will just buy snacks and beverages and celebrate with children in my locality in the evening.
“In my own view, Ash Wednesday has nothing to do with Val celebration. It is only the stingy ones that would hide under that to deprive their loved ones of gifts.”
Abraham Yakubu sells female clothes in Kubwa Market: “I know that this year’s Valentine’s falls on the same day with Ash Wednesday. But, it is not going to stop me from having fun. I will go to Mass in the morning then the evening is for the Val. Only that day won’t send me to hell.”
Henry Ocheme, an electrical engineer in Dutse, FCT, said: “Valentine’s Day is once a year but the fasting would last for 40 days. So, skipping only a day won’t send me to hell.
“Life is once oh! I don’t want to have any carry-over. I must enjoy myself now that I can. We are going to paint Abuja Red that day. It will last all night.”
Mohamed Sakuma, a teacher in a private school in Maitama, said he would have loved to take his woman out that day. Due to the hike in prices of things, he called it off. But his woman has started showing him attitudes.
Adah Loveth, a student of University of Abuja (UNIABUJA), said February 14 “is a must-celebration” because it is her birthday: “The Lent can’t stop the fun. I will go to church in the morning to give God all the glory for seeing another year. The evening is for the guys; enough highness!”