Lagos sue for peaceful coexistence

Lagos sue for peaceful coexistence
Qasim Akinreti. Lagos

The Lagos State Governor, Mr Babatunde Fashola, has emphasised the need for security consciousness and peaceful coexistence amongst all ethnic groups in the state.

This call is instructive as traditional rulers, chiefs and ethnic leaders also declared their resolve to continue to live in peace in the state in response to threat and promotion of balkanisation by the Boko Haram group from the northern part of Nigeria.

Governor Fashola, while advising Nigerians to see themselves first as human beings before any other considerations, said it is only in an atmosphere of peace that the country can develop.

He stressed that the ethnic or religious denomination anyone is in is simply an accident of birth.

Citing his family as an example of the interwoven nature of relations which must foster tolerance, peaceful co-existence and religious harmony, he said: “My wife is from Oyo State, but her mother is Urhobo, so she is half Urhobo, she has married me and we now have children who are Lagosians, but they have Urhobo ancestry and Oyo ancestry, who knows who they are going to marry next. Although I am a Moslem today, but I went to a Methodist School. Am I going to remove that part from my body? That is where I received the education that gives me the privilege to stand here to serve you”.

Condemning the spate of heinous killings across the country, Fashola called on Nigerians to always see victims of such crises as human beings first, instead of whether they are Muslims or Christians. He stressed that “every human life that is lost diminishes Man”.

In his words, “each time you drink water, do you always ask if the water you are about to drink is Yoruba or Hausa water. You simply drink to quench your thirst. If when blood transfusion is carried out on people the ethnic origin is never a consideration in transfusing the blood”.

Cost of instability

He pointed out that the cost of instability is more funds voted for security ahead of social services. He said: “For some people, the only time they make money is when there is chaos. In the 2012 Budget estimates, the Nigerian Government budgeted over 900 million Naira for Security. But how much did it budget for roads construction? Just a fraction of it.”

He urged traditional rulers never to read religious or ethnic meanings into any policies of government as all policies enunciated for the people is meant to achieve the greatest good for the possible greatest number of people.

While enjoining the traditional rulers to endeavour to spread the message of unity and religious tolerance among their subjects, the Governor declared: “I make this passionate appeal; we have much more at stake. Let us save Nigeria so that we can save ourselves”.

Assurances

The Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu the first, reminded all those who are promoting violence that there would be no development or progress without peaceful co-existence.

The Oba prayed for peace and progress in Lagos, urging everyone to continue to live in peace and harmony.

The Sarkin Hausawa in Lagos State, Alhaji Sanni Kabir, pledged the support of the Hausa community to the present administration in Lagos State in its quest to ensure peace and security.

The Sarkin Hausawa who spoke in both Hausa and English gave a commitment that the Hausa community would work with other ethnic groups to ensure that the people in the state continue to live in peace.

In his address, the representative of the South-South geopolitical zone in Lagos, Mr Isaac Emiyede, said Lagos had always been a peaceful state and home to all the people of Niger Delta residing there.

Emiyede who reiterated the call for an atmosphere of peace stating that violence breeds no good, but only stifle development, urged everyone to live in peace and harmony.

Also speaking at the briefing, the representative of the Eze Ndigbo of Lagos, Eze Ohazulike (OON), Ogbuefi Goody Ulasi warned against violence, stating that only a peaceful atmosphere would benefit the citizenry and the nation.

Religious leaders lend their voice

In a clear display of harmony and peaceful co-existence, religious leaders from all parts of Lagos,also resolved to continue the spirit of co-operation and tolerance for which the residents of the State are known.

Among the religious leaders were; Chief Missioner of the Ansar- Ud -Deen Society of Nigeria, Sheikh Abdur Rahman Ahmad, the Prelate of the Methodist Church of Nigeria, Rev, Samuel Ola Makinde, the President of the Christian Council of Nigeria, the Most Rev. Josiah Udofia and former Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Alhaja Lateefat Okunnu.

The Prelate of the Methodist Church of Nigeria, Reverend Ola Makinde urged everyone to be security conscious stressing that if they suspect any movement of people of questionable character, they should report such people to their pastors or Chief Imams and the law enforcement agents.

“We cannot afford to experience any civil war in Nigeria again and Lagos is a melting point for all Nigerians, Ibos, Hausas, Yorubas, Ijaws, name it, all of us are there and we want to make Lagos State a peaceful State,” Ola Makinde asserted.

He urged the people to maintain peace always and love one another because God is love.

In his contribution, the Chief Missioner of the Ansar- Ud -Deen Society of Nigeria, Sheikh Abdur Rahman Ahmed stated that some evil people are trying to hide under religion to commit havoc.

He said Nigerians as a people have resolved to come together to defeat evil and the evil doers behind it, stating that the killing of innocent people is inconsistent with any religion at all.

“We must ensure that we defeat this evil and the evil doers. They will not succeed with us as we have renewed our commitment to cooperate and live in peace and harmony and to ensure that Nigeria as a people and Nigeria as a nation attains its destiny of greatness.”

“Maiming men, women, children and the elderly is not preached by any religion. We will resist any attempt by anyone to make us into enemies because we are not enemies”.

Sheikh Ahmad also appealed to Nigerians to be security conscious, stating that security consciousness is an individual responsibility that requires all Nigerians particularly Lagosians to report suspicious movements.

Also addressing the press, a former Deputy Governor and Moslem leader, Alhaja Lateefat Okunnu, appealed to the media to play down alarmist reports and as much as possible check on facts before coming out with reports.

She also appealed to all Nigerians to embrace peace stressing that it is only under an atmosphere of peace that the nation can have development. “We cannot grow where there is war and those who have gone through the experience of war once will not preach it for this nation again.

“So, people have to be vigilant and be careful about their utterances. Let us stop using rumour mongering through our phones to spread lies and falsehoods,” she said.

The President of the Christian Council of Nigeria, The Most Rev Josiah Udofia who also spoke at the briefing said all Nigerians irrespective of what tribe or State they belong to should see themselves as their brother’s keeper.

“Nigerians are religious people and we should try to bring to pass what we have learnt from our holy books. There is no religion that teaches anything evil or hatred. There is no religion that teaches anybody to take arms against the other. There is no religion in the world that says one should go out and shed innocent blood”.

“As religious leaders we should embrace peace at all levels. We should try to forgive one another”, he added.

Cokey