Speeches

‘Let’s Renew The Spirit Of Tolerance, Sacrifice And Mutual Love’

Dec 6, 2008 - We have every cause to thank Almighty Allah for sparing our lives to celebrate another Eid-el-Kabir, the sacred season that symbolizes sacrifice, tolerance and love for Muslims all over the world. On this joyous occasion that we acknowledge our indebtedness to our creator and renew our dedication to His service, I rejoice with and congratulate all Muslims in Lagos State and Nigeria.

The values of tolerance, sacrifice and love for Allah and our fellow human beings is more relevant and necessary than ever before in our nation and our world. I congratulate all our pilgrims from Nigeria and particularly Lagos State for successfully performing their religious obligation and pray for their safe return home.

The diversity of faiths, cultures, tongues and traditions that exist in our world, as typified by the multi-national and multi-cultural character of the multitude of pilgrims that converged in the holy land, is a testimony of the limitless greatness of the Almighty who is the source of all existence.

We all have a stake in a peaceful and prosperous world where we can raise our families, earn our livelihoods, worship our creator in our diverse ways and realize the purpose for our existence. Luckily, there are scores of countries across the globe where multitudes with divergent beliefs, cultures and ideologies live harmoniously in mutual self respect. Our challenge is to expand the boundaries of tolerance in our time so that humanity can fulfill its potential to create a secure, safe and healthy world that enhances rather than desecrates life.

While wishing all Muslims in Lagos State and Nigeria a very happy Eid-el-Kabir celebration, I enjoin us all to renew our commitment to the tenets of Islam so that we can maintain the high ethical standards of honesty, industry, faithfulness, discipline, contentment and sacrifice to enable us contribute meaningfully to the peace, prosperity and progress of our country.

Let us be determined more than ever before that, as a global Mega City, Lagos State will remain a model of harmonious co-existence where a thousand flowers of faith and tongues and cultures are free to thrive and bloom in an atmosphere of mutual respect and tolerance.


BABATUNDE RAJI FASHOLA (SAN)
GOVERNOR, LAGOS STATE