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Fashola Attends Christmas Carol, Advocates Peace in Nigeria

The Lagos State governor, Babatunde Fashola at the weekend advocated peaceful co-existence among all Nigerians irrespective of their faith saying it is important for progress … Continue reading Fashola Attends Christmas Carol, Advocates Peace in Nigeria


The Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola (right), First Lady of Lagos State, Dame Emmanuella Abimbola Fashola (2nd right), representative of the Deputy Governor and Director, Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Folashode Ogunnaike (2nd left) and wife of the Speaker, Lagos House of Assembly, Mayowa Ikuforiji (left) during the 2012 Christmas Carol with the theme, Prince of Peace at the State House, Marina, Lagos, on Friday, December 21, 2012.

The Lagos State governor, Babatunde Fashola at the weekend advocated peaceful co-existence among all Nigerians irrespective of their faith saying it is important for progress in the country.

The Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola (right), First Lady of Lagos State, Dame Emmanuella Abimbola Fashola (2nd right), representative of the Deputy Governor and Director, Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Folashode Ogunnaike (2nd left) and wife of the Speaker, Lagos House of Assembly, Mayowa Ikuforiji (left) during the 2012 Christmas Carol with the theme, Prince of Peace at the State House, Marina, Lagos, on Friday, December 21, 2012.

Governor Fashola, who spoke at the Lagos House Marina venue of the 2012 Christmas Carols, noted that it is the common bond of humanity such as common blood, common markets and other such bonds that binds all together as a people.

According to the Governor, who noted that many people are adherents of faith they did not determine for themselves but were in it by circumstances of their birth, “Whether you are a Christian or a Muslim, we are all God’s people. Many are adherents of the Faith they did not determine but are in it by the circumstances of where they were born”.

“Many Christians would probably have been Hindu if they were born in India or Buddhists. It is the common bond of humanity, the same blood, the same market, the same money and all that, that is what binds us together as a people”, the Governor said.

Referring to a reading from the Bible as read by the representative of the Deputy Governor at the occasion, Governor Fashola prayed that God would intervene in the affairs of the world in order to save the planet from self-destruction.

“Our Planet faces such difficulties today. Whether it is America where young children were mindlessly slaughtered or Mali where history is being destroyed, or in parts of Nigeria where people are living in fear and sorrow, I pray that that verse becomes applicable to our State, to our country, to the Continent of Africa and to the world”, the Governor said.

Wishing all Lagosians a happy Christmas and prosperous New Year 2013, Governor Fashola, who expressed joy for being able to be present at this year’s Christmas Carols, called for peaceful co-existence among adherents of the various faiths in the State saying it is only through such co-existence that the State would make progress.

Earlier in her welcome address the First Lady, Dame Emmanuella Abimbola Fashola, said the season of Christmas was a time for all to reflect on all that God has done in their lives and give glory to Him as well as pray for more of His blessing in the coming year.

According to the First Lady, “The mood that you are in during the Christmas season is very different from all other festivals on Earth. Apart from being a time when we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, Christmas is a time when we reflect on those who have not and share with them the joy of the season. For me, it is a season when I wish to take out time to give glory to God, to dance and be happy. It is a time of sharing and thanking God that He has kept us thus far. It is time to reflect on all that God has done in our lives in the passing year and pray that He will help us even more in the New Year”.

Wishing all Nigerians a happy Christmas and a prosperous New Year, the First Lady also enjoined all Lagosians to live in peace and harmony in spite of their diverse faiths saying it is the only guarantee for progress.

Highlights of the programme held at the open grounds of the Lagos House Marina were the various carol songs rendered at intervals by different denominations that attended the ceremony.

Among those present at the ceremony were Christian religious clerics such as the General Overseer of the TREM, Mike Okonkwo, Samson Ayorinde other Clergy, members of the State Executive Council such as the Commissioner for Home Affairs and Culture, Oyinlomo Danmole, his Establishment and Training counterpart, Florence Oguntuase as well as the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Olutoyin Ayinde, wife of the Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, Mayowa Ikuforiji, Director, Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Folashade Ogunnaike, Body of Permanent Secretaries, prominent Lagosians from all walks of life and top government functionaries.