Press Releases

Fashola Charges Christian Leaders To Reach Out To Other Faiths To Forge Unity

Feb 13, 2010 - Lagos State Governor, Mr Babatunde Fashola (SAN) on Saturday appealed to Christian religious leaders to reach out to people of other faiths in order that the country can forge closer unity.

According to the Governor who spoke at the Interdenominational Divine Service 2010 of the Lagos State Chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) with the theme: “As The Father Has Sent Me Into The World So Have I Sent You” held at the premises of the Apostolic Church, International Convention grounds, Olorunda-Ketu, “We should lay emphasis on things that bind us together by reaching out and establishing our common bonds of humanity”.

Said he: “The truth is that our common humanity is that humanity that is characterized by the water that we drink and you do not know whether it was a Christian or a Muslim who bottled the water. The rice and pepper that you buy from the market, do you know who grew it?. Those are the things that bind us together”.

Governor Fashola prayed that the sustained intercession of all religious leaders in Lagos for peace consistently be answered by God because it is the bedrock and the platform upon which the work of those tasked with governance can be done and the aspirations of the people realized. He also intimated the audience with some of the progress being made by the State Government saying in the last two weeks in the health sector, two 100 bed first class Maternal and Child Care Centres have been handed over to the people.

The Governor added that the facilities which are located in Ikorodu and Isolo represent part of the eight which the state Government is providing in different locations across the state to bring healthcare to the doorstep of the mother and child.

He said the third of the completed Maternal and Child Care Centres which is located in Ifako Ijaiye is billed for commissioning any time from now and collectively will also reduce the pressure on Massey Street Children Hospital, the Island Maternity and Ayinke House in Ikeja.

Governor Fashola noted that in terms of employment opportunities, each of the eight care centres will employ a minimum of 120 people ranging from doctors, nurses, midwives who will work in them, making a total of 960 new jobs.

The Lagos State helmsman also informed that in the last three weeks the Government has handed over four waterworks located in Isheri-Osun, Mende, Magodo and Epe, each with a capacity to generate two million gallons of water daily out of the 15 which Government is in the process of completing.

Governor Fashola said work is also ongoing on the road networks across the state and that in places where new roads cannot be constructed, old ones are being rehabilitated towards ensuring smooth motoring.

He explained that the State is also preparing for the rainy season so that it can make life better for everyone by making the cost of transportation very cheap which will also lead to a drop in prices of food.

In the educational sector, Governor Fashola said many of the classrooms are being completed while the teachers are better trained with the exposure of the principals to new skills and incentives.

He stressed that while the construction and rehabilitation of classrooms is going on, Government has also resolved that by the end of 2010, no pupil in any public school in Lagos will sit on the floor again and has started taking delivery of desks and benches which are being produced in batches for use in the schools.

He stated that the State is about to start a new project that will allow teachers to administer their own schools, make their own projections, make their own preparations and also monitor in such a way that the teachers are empowered to be the administrators of their own classrooms.

Earlier in his welcome address, the Lagos State Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Monsignor B. A. Okoduwa said God has chosen Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN) to lead Lagos to the end of another decade in a Century.

Monsignor Okoduwa thanked God for the life of Governor Fashola for the wisdom God has granted unto him to direct Lagos State in a unique way.

He also thanked God for the gift and vision of former Governor, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu who laid the foundation of a new beginning in purposeful governance in Lagos State.

Prayers were offered the Governor, his family, cabinet, all arms of government, the state and the country.

Among those present at the service where Deputy Governor, Princess Sarah Adebisi Sosan, First Lady, Mrs Abimbola Fashola, Commissioner for Home Affairs and Culture, Mr Tunde Balogun, the Secretary General of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, Bishop George Amu, a representative of former First Lady of Lagos, Chief (Mrs) Oluremi Tinubu, members of the Committee of the Wives of Lagos State Officials (COWLSO) and many other religious leaders.