Press Releases

National Integration: "What We Need Now Is Hardwork To Realise Our Potentials", Says Fashola

Jul 22, 2010 - Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN), Thursday declared that the integration of Nigeria as a nation is complete adding that what is needed now from all Nigerians is hard work to realize the potentials of the country.

Governor Fashola, who spoke at the Lagos House, Alausa, when he played host to Imo State Governor, Mr. Ihedi Ohakim who paid him a courtesy visit, said the process of inter-ethic marriages across the country have created blood linkages and bonds from the East, through the West to the South and the North making the integration of the country complete.

He declared, "There is a national integration process going on across the country, beyond the Niger to the North and I foresee very soon that in each home, wherever you are, you will find a Fulani mother, an Igbo father and children who have cousins and brothers in the Yoruba Race".

Describing the visit of the Imo State Governor as momentous, Governor Fashola said it has rekindled the relationship between the East and the West of the country "whose very deep seed was sown by two great men who are sadly no longer with us - the great Zik of Africa and the great Adeniran Ogunsanya –", expressing joy, however, that "the seed has borne great fruits".

Describing the progress of Lagos as "a function of the multi-lingual, multi-ethnic and individual capacities, including that of the Igbos, Governor Fashola declared, "The Igbos have contributed their quota. Therefore, they are not just visitors in our land; they are part of our history. Whatever we do, we do with them. Our prosperity will always be their prosperity".

The Governor expressed gratitude to some prominent Igbo indigenes whose actions and contributions, according to him, have helped to deepen democracy in the country referring particularly to socio-cultural and ethnic organizations such as the Aka Ikenga whose recent seminar for Igbo Businessmen in Lagos he described as very commendable.

"For the very first time, citizens are saying 'we want to meet, we want to hear and we also want to give ideas about the way forward' and that for me is a very strong sign beyond voting, which is important for the credibility of the electoral process", Governor Fashola.

He added, "What harnesses the social function is not just the leadership, it is the follower-ship, ready to understand issues, prepared to discuss the changes that are necessary, prepared to discard old habits so that new progress can be made, because as long as we continue to do the same things, we should never expect different results".

"We must thank the leadership of Aka Ikenga and the professionals for creating a forum to enable us explain our difficulties, for enabling us also to learn of their own aspirations and where to strengthen our efforts, where we are supposed to do more work and where we are supposed to do less work", he said.

Thanking the Imo State Governor for the visit, Governor Fashola who described him as a man of great ideas, added, "His voice has always been the voice of courage, not only at the Governors' Forum, but also at the Economic Council where he has been very strong at discussing national issues".

Earlier in his opening remarks, the Imo State Governor said his visit was to pay homage to his Lagos State counterpart, who, according to him "has given progress and justice to my people, the Igbos in Lagos".

Quoting from famous Nigerian Writer Onuorah Nzekwu, the Imo State Governor declared, "I like paying homage to great men so that I can be great", adding that traditionally, if one was paying a visit to a place and has to pass the house of a king, one must branch and notify the king of one's presence in his domain.

Thanking Governor Fashola for taking the Igbos in Lagos as his constituents and creating a conducive environment for their business to thrive, Governor Ohakim said, "The insignia of Lagos State says, Justice and Progress and you have given justice to my people and progress is what it has brought to this land which is a basket for all Nigerians".

Also present at the occasion from the Lagos State Government side were the Deputy Governor, Princess Sarah Adebisi Sosan, the Secretary to the State Government, Princess Aderenle Adeniran-Ogunsanya, Chief of Staff, Mr. Lanre Babalola, Commissioners for Information and Strategy, Mr. Opeyemi Bamidele, Establishment and Training, Mr. Jide Sanwoolu, Economic Planning and Budget, Mr. Ben Akabueze, and Tourism and Inter-Governmental Affairs, Senator Tokunbo Afikuyomi as well as Special Adviser on Commerce and Industry, Mrs. Sola Oworu, among other top government functionaries.

On the entourage of the Imo State Governor were the Commissioner for Special Duties, Chief Chima Nnaji, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Deputy Chief of Staff, Mr. Chukwu Onuoha, former Managing Director of the Daily Times, Chief Innocent Okparadike, the Imo State Liaison Officer in Lagos and other top officials of the Imo State Government.