We must continue to interact across ethnic and religious lines says Fashola

 

 

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN) Monday said Nigerians must continue to interact across ethnic and religious lines in order to solve some of the security challenges facing the nation. Fashola, who disclosed this when he received the retiring Bishop of the Lagos West Diocese of the Anglican Communion, Rt. Reverend Peter Adebiyi, who paid him a visit, said part of the nation’s strength like that of most nations was her immigrant human capital, adding that the country must thrive on the character of her immigrant human capital and human resources.

He explained that when such situations were available, the tendency for inter-marriage and inter-relationships would become stronger and deeper, thereby making it inevitable for people to tolerate themselves.

“As I have often said, we are bound together by much more important things than the little things that people who mean us no well seek to emphasise, so if you have an altercation with a citizen in town, it is not because you are from one ethnic group.

"If a citizen had acted badly, let us deal with his bad action, don’t escalate it on the ground that it is because I am from here and he is not from there. Don’t escalate it on the ground that because he is Muslim or Christian,” the governor said. Citing a number of examples that emphasised the commonality of humanity, Fashola declared: “Whatever is bad in Christiandom is bad in Islam. That is what is in the two books. We always forget the things that bind us together. There is no Muslim water or Christian water, no Christian blood or Muslim blood. Those who are in throes of life fighting to survive don’t ask about what is the faith of the doctor that is treating them, when they are struggling to live.

"A woman in labour is not going to ask what the faith of the midwife is. Interestingly there is no  Christian or Muslim money . If you analyse the donation in every church and the donations in the church they cut across. My money is in churches as it is in mosques."

Fashola recalled that late Chief M.K.O. Abiola, was one of the greatest donors to churches during his lifetime but still kept to his Isalm faith, stressing that it was the people who should open their minds and be much tolerant of and worship God in the way that each person likes and chooses to.

The governor, who described himself as an incurable optimist, expressed the belief that things will get better if everyone plays their expected roles, adding that the best days of Nigeria were still ahead and not behind her with everyone coming very soon to experience those days in the fullness of time. In terms of securing the people as an example, the governor said it cannot be the sole responsibility of the police alone as the citizens must be self protecting and vigilant and share information with security agents, saying: “Crime prevention and crime detection is not divination.”

He explained that if citizens distanced themselves from their law enforcement agencies, they unwittingly distance themselves from their own protection. He noted that though some had expressed concerns about the troubles they go through in providing information, as government tries to improve the process, if those little inconveniences were still the cost that citizens bear for staying alive, it was still well worth it.

“Knowledge sharing and information passing will be the critical thing and people must not take things for granted. The fact that Lagos is safe does not mean that you should invite yourself to be a victim. If you must go out at night to a place that is not lit up, why not go with somebody. If a woman must go out on her own, she should dress appropriately. Don’t go and provoke. There are some places where no matter how safe it is, it is an invitation to trouble when you show off your gold chain and diamond watch. So these are some of the senses of internal protection,” he said.

Noting that crime was a global phenomenon which every government works to curtail, the governor gave other examples of habits people should avoid. “There are some places where it is not safe to wear certain things even in the safest cities in the world. Every major city in the world has its own black spots. So, the fact that it is safe does not mean you should now go and provoke it. If you throw money around in your house every time certainly you risk the temptation for your children to begin to pick it. You may teach your children not to steal but you should also not throw money around. Money must be kept appropriately safe”.

Earlier in his address, Adebiyi had thanked the governor for his consistent support to the Lagos West, adding that he had enjoyed a robust cooperation with the state government. He described the decision of the state government to restrict the operation of commercial motorcycles on certain highways and bridges as a step in the right direction, declaring: “I have seen many things being done by the okada riders. So, I know personally that many of these people are agents of the underworld and notorious rebels that are trying to invade our state”.

“I want to thank you for the roads that are being built, the classes and schools. Though we took our schools back from you when you gave us some years ago, I have started to see some of the schools that you call Millennium schools. They are well built and well organised.  I think if the government had been doing this, maybe we wouldn’t have had any cause to say that we wanted to take over our school”.

He appealed to the government to allow a return to thorough religious studies so that the nation’s falling moral fabric can be rebuilt; arguing that since religious studies in schools was taken away during the military days everyone can see what is happening now.

“There is no fear of God, they were not taught again and those that are being taught in the Sunday school in the churches are like a drop of water in the ocean. Many are not coming to church and are nominal Christians but when children are taught from the beginning they will know what to do when they get old and they will be able to have a better country”.

The cleric urged the governor not to be bothered by critics who may claim that he is not perfect but should remain focused adding that with more exemplary leaders like the governor; the nation would be the better for it. “If we can get a few of you who are ready to salvage this sinking nation, it will be better for us and I hope very sincerely that after your eight years you will still look after your friends who are good and have the same disposition and same thinking like you so that we can have if not a better country, a better nation tomorrow”, he said

Source: Thisdaylive