Speeches

Third Annual Hijrah Lecture/Dala Session Of The Lagos State House Of Assembly

Jan 13, 2010 - I am delighted to be here again to attend yet another Hijrah celebration and I congratulate the Hon. Speaker and the members of the House for the Theme of this year which centers on Leadership, Trust and Good Governance.

At this period of our development, in the year that our country will have been independent for 50 years and at the occasion that commemorates the beginning of that year, the Theme of the session is a most appropriate platform to start the year.

Because the event invites discussion on Islamic perspective of Leadership. Trust and Good Governance, I think our Islamic leaders, especially the speakers at this event are better able to deal with this subject.

However, I feel compelled to share with you the benefits of a gift I received recently. It is a book titled “The 100: A Ranking of the Most Influential Persons in History” written by an American, Michael H. Hart from Annandale, Virginia, USA.

A lot of people that we know and read about made that list of 100 people and a lot of people we would expect to be there, did not make the list. According to the Author, while explaining why some people like Ghandi did not make the list, he said:

“I would certainly have included Ghandi, since like most Americans, I greatly admire him. However, this book is concerned solely with influence…”

Interestingly, his person of first choice in his book was the Holy Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) and he explains his reasons thus:

“My choice of Mohammed to lead the list of the world’s most influential persons may surprise some readers and may be questioned by others, but he was the only man in history who was supremely successful on both the religious and secular levels”

Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, the import of this reference is to demonstrate the impact and influence of the leader of the Islamic faith in the affairs of our planet. It is an impact of reverence, respect and development that must never be tarnished by extremism.

That impact has provided an alternative choice of faith for millions across the world. It has exploded myths about the balance of world’s power both economically and globally. It has shown that all people are capable irrespective of their faith, ethnic origins or size.

As leaders, we must never do anything that undermines those gains. We need to sustain those gains for peaceful co-existence; we need 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.

The existence of mutual trust is the cornerstone to achieving peaceful co-existence upon which good governance can be delivered.

As elected representatives and trustees of people we bear the burden of their hopes and expectations which makes it inevitable for us to take decisions aimed at sustaining those hopes and meeting those expectations.

In the process of policy formulation and decision making, religious and ethnic considerations do not affect our decisions. On the contrary, our 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.

We are mindful that decisions will affect people positively and negatively, we are mindful also that we may be wrong, and as humans it is in our place to make mistakes, but when we make mistakes, we urge you to address those mistakes and to resist the temptation of ascribing ethnic and religious considerations to them. We are convinced that if this is done, we can all review the decisions on their merits with trust rather than with suspicion, with a view to making permissible amendments.

I must emphasize that this is a most important resolution for us to adopt in order to reduce religious tension which is currently giving our country an unfavorable reputation; and potentially places our people at a disadvantage.

The truth is 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, not only do we all benefit from it, but I do not remember when government has been commended for implementing those projects because they favour a particular faith or ethnic group.

The question then is, why should adverse policies be questioned on ethnic or religious grounds, rather than on their content.

Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, these are my thoughts on Leadership, Trust and Good Governance. I wish us all a prosperous and rewarding year ahead, and a Brighter and Rewarding Future.

Eko o ni baje o!

Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN
Governor of Lagos State