Speeches

We Can Overcome Current Travails Through Faith, Love And Sacrifice

Nov 26, 2009 - Once again, it is that season of the year when Muslims across the world celebrate the Eid-El Kabir Festival; that unique demonstration by the Prophet Abraham of the spirit of selfless sacrifice and faith in Almighty Allah. I congratulate and rejoice with all Lagosians and indeed Nigerians for being alive to join in the commemoration of another Eid-El Kabir festival. Like all enduring festivals of all the great religions and civilizations of humanity, the Eid-El Kabir, symbolizes values of universal and eternal significance to mankind.

It reminds us of the critical importance of supreme faith in the power and goodness of the Almighty to meet all human challenges; no matter how daunting. The commemoration of Eid-El-Kabir reinforces in our consciousness the imperative of continuously sacrificing our own personal interests, desires and comforts for the collective good of society under the guidance of Almighty Allah – the author and sustainer of all that exists.

I find it particularly gratifying and fulfilling that, as we celebrate this year’s Eid-EL-Kabir, Lagos State continues to be a model of harmonious and peaceful inter as well as intra-religious co-existence. I urge us all to continue to uphold this commitment to religious tolerance and accommodation because the virtues of love, discipline, self-restraint, responsibility and respect for human dignity common to our divergent religious faiths are indispensable to the attainment of our objectives as a Mega-City and indeed as a nation aspiring to global economic leadership status by 2020.

The times we live in are without doubt challenging and trying ones. But I urge us to renew our faith in the Almighty as well as in our innate capacity to scale any hurdle – no matter how formidable. With the spirit of faith, love and sacrifice symbolized by the Eid-El-Kabir celebration, we can overcome current travails and transform temporary obstacles into stepping stones to greatness. Let me emphasize that Love is not some esoteric and impractical religious concept. In concrete terms, love refers to our daily efforts to care for and put our neighbours first. It refers to our care for other road users on our highways through adherence to traffic rules. It refers to our refusal to throw waste on the highways, dump refuse in drainages or construct illegal structures that endanger lives. It means thinking about how our action or inaction will affect others. It means all of us in the public and private sectors doing our best to offer quality service to our clients and customers. It means doing the right thing even when no one is looking. Through love, faith and sacrifice, we can elevate our society to new heights and create an environment conducive to the well being of each one of us.

On this occasion of Eid-El-Kabir I enjoin us to pray for the good health of President Umaru Yar’ Adua and all other Nigerians. Even as we celebrate, let us not forget to spare a thought, a prayer, a helping hand to the infirm in hospitals, orphanages, old peoples homes and so on. Let us also remember those who are working hard to ensure the safety of life and property even as we celebrate. We should remember to send some of the ram and food to the Police men and other essential service workers in our neighbourhood. And let us ensure that our love and concern for the less privileged will transcend the Eid-El-Kabir festival and become part of our daily culture as a nation. Once again, I wish us all the blessings, guidance and protection of Almighty Allah during this celebration and beyond.

Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN)
Governor, Lagos State