Press Releases

Nigeria Will Fulfill Her Greatness, Says Fashola

Nov 16, 2008 - Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN), Sunday optimistically declared that Nigeria would fulfill her greatness and urged Nigerians not to give up hope on her.

Governor Fashola, who spoke at the closing ceremonies of the 53rd Annual National Convention of the Four Square Gospel Church in Ajebo, Ogun State, said allowing hope to die means allowing every other thing about the nation to die.

He told thousands of the faithful and dignitaries who graced the occasion, “As we come to the end of this Convention, I urge you not to lose hope, because when hope dies, every other thing dies. I have hope. My hope is stronger than ever before that our country will fulfill her greatness”.

The Governor said Nigerians have every cause to be grateful to God not only in the way He has positioned the country on this planet, free from natural disasters that have continually devastated many nations of the world, but also because of the enormous resources the Almighty has placed at the disposal of the country.

Nigeria, he said, “is truly blessed not only in the gift of nature which God has so lavishly bestowed on the nation in terms of resources in both human and material capital”, but also for the fact that while the rest of the world was concerned about greening, desertification, the rising water levels, the hurricanes and the tsunamis, the only challenge facing the nation was to decide how great she wants to be.

“The Challenge we face as a people is to decide how great we want to be. There is greatness around us. There is greatness in us. There is greatness in our nation. I believe the first step is to give support to all the people who, in His wisdom, He has chosen to lead us”, the Governor said, adding that there was always a purpose in every decision of God.

Going down memory lane, Governor Fashola recalled that Foursquare Gospel Church was founded in July 1922 in California by Aimee Semple Mcpherson with 8, 000 faithful but has grown over the years and spread across many nations, including Nigeria where the present General Overseer in Nigeria, Rev.(Dr.) Wilson Badejo, “supported by a very strong woman” has built up a formidable Foursquare Gospel group.

Describing the General Overseer as “A man of Grace and a man of service,” the Governor expressed gratitude to him for devoting special times in the interest of Lagos State, adding, “I thank you, God will reward you”.

Governor Fashola also thanked the wife of the General Overseer, Dr. (Mrs.) Yinka Badejo, whom he called Mama, for what God has been using her to do in Lagos, Ogun and other parts of the country, adding that in spite of the challenging times facing world economies today, the energy and greatness God has bestowed on Nigeria was unmistakable.

Earlier while welcoming Governor Fashola, the General Overseer of the Church, Rev Badejo, had described the Governor as a man of integrity, a man of distinction, a man who won an election that was uncontestable, a man destined for beauty and excellence, adding, “He carries beauty and distinction wherever he goes”.

According to the General Overseer who expressed great joy that the Governor found time to honour the Church’s invitation, Governor Fashola has lived up to his campaign slogan Eko oni baje “And I am glad today that he is making sure that the city is coming out of decadence to be a beauty”.

The National Convention which began of Sunday, November 9 and ended on Sunday November 16, has the theme, “Ultimate Fulfillment”, taken from the Book of Revelation, (Chapter 19: 6 – 9).