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Promote Acts That Strengthen Peaceful Co-Existence, Fashola Urges Religious Leaders

Jan 13, 2010 - Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN) on Wednesday urged Lagosians to stop reading religious or ethnic meanings into decisions or policies of the State Government, pleading that such policies should rather be viewed from the context of the overall public interest.

Governor Fashola who spoke at the open grounds of the State House of Assembly, Alausa, venue of the Third Annual Hijrah Lecture/ Du’au Session with the theme: “Leadership, Trust and Good Governance: The Islamic Perspective”, added that all decisions are informed by considerations of right and wrong, justice and fair play and whether the matter at hand will deliver the greatest benefit to the greatest number.

Governor Fashola said the State Government is not unmindful that some of its decisions may have positive or adverse impacts on the people, but such policies should not be misconstrued as being against any group of people.

The Lagos State helmsman said residents of the State should realize that the existence of mutual trust is the cornerstone of peaceful co-existence by the people adding that people should always try to promote acts that will help reduce religious tension rather than promote it.

Quoting from a book titled The 100: A Ranking of the Most Influential Persons in History” written by an American, Michael H. Hart, Governor Fashola cited the author as asserting that late Prophet Muhammed (PBOH) was the only man in history who was supremely successful on both the religious and secular levels, warning that the gains must never be tarnished by extremism.

Said he: “As leaders, we must never do anything that undermine those gains. We need to sustain those gains for peaceful co-existence to create understanding, that while we may differ, we are not different, because we are bound by a common thread of humanity that makes us live together, share water and food and inter-marry. This is what will build trust”.

He emphasized that the existence of mutual trust is the cornerstone to achieving peaceful coexistence upon which good governance can be delivered, adding that as elected representatives and trustees of the people, government bears the burden of their hopes and expectations which makes it inevitable for it to take decisions aimed at sustaining those hopes and meeting those hopes and expectations.

Governor Fashola citing an example said the decision to stop the use of schools meant for young pupils by adults for social activities was meant to protect the pupils from exposure to negative influences and the facilities in such schools adding that, there was no way such a noble decision could have been targeted at any group or religion.

He explained that Government is not unmindful that some decisions will affect people positively and or adversely and that it may be wrong. He noted that as mortals, humans make mistakes, but such mistakes should not be ascribed to religious or ethnic considerations.

Governor Fashola cautioned that it is only when this is done that the decisions can be reviewed on their merits with trust rather than suspicion with a view to making permissible amendments.

He emphasized that this is a most important resolution for people to adopt in order to reduce religious tensions which is currently giving the country an unfavourable reputation and potentially places our people at a disadvantage.

He said it was rather ironic that when government policies are right in the sense that they favour the populace, such as a new school, a new hospital, or a new road or water facility, government is never commended for implementing those projects because they favour a particular faith or ethnic group.

Also speaking, the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, RT Hon. Mr Adeyemi Ikuforiji agreed with the contention of the two lecturers at the event that there is still a lot to do in terms of the provision of the dividends of democracy to the people.

He said the honourable members of the House of Assembly will continue to support the Governor in providing the goodies of democracy to the people.

Speaking on the title “Leadership, Trust and Good Governance: The Islamic Perspective”, Barrister Zikrullah Olakunle Hassan and Sheikh Abdul Rashid Mayaleke urged all leaders to make service to the people a cornerstone as a leader should also be a servant to the people.

Barrister Zikrullah Hassan also charged Nigerian leaders to ensure that the educational sector is adequately developed so that public schools can become a reference point for both the children of the rich and the poor.

The event was attended by members of the State House of Assembly and Muslim leaders from across the state.