Press Releases

Our Greatness Requires Common, Collective Efforts In A Peaceful Atmosphere - Fashola At National Day Parade
…Says we've had one strike too many

Oct 1, 2011 - As Nigeria marks her 51st Independence Anniversary, Lagos State Governor, Mr Babatunde Fashola (SAN) on Saturday restated that it will require the common efforts of every citizen deployed in a peaceful atmosphere to build the collectively desired country.

Governor Fashola who spoke at the Police College, Ikeja venue of the march past and parade ceremony which involved the Police, voluntary organizations, school children and para military agencies added that "nobody will do it except ourselves".

"We can of course continue to agonize without organizing, and in that sense betray the responsibility of our generation. Conversely, we can resolve from today to be part of the solution rather than the problem", he explained.

He recalled that during his 50th Anniversary address, he had cause to assert that Nigeria's good days are ahead of her and not behind her, stating that: "Today, inspite of the challenges that we face, my belief is unshaken; that our better days lie ahead of us, but it is more important to also say that we must earn it by working hard, probably harder than we have ever done before".

"We must earn it by promoting our common humanity and embracing peace, probably more than we have ever done before. We must aspire to those better days which lie ahead of us by exercising the greatest restrain that we can muster when things are not going the way we expect".

The Governor who explained that he should not be misunderstood to be suggesting that Nigerians must remain docile in the face of want, hunger, poverty and insecurity noted that options and choices must be considered to redress those wrongs without aggravating its already difficult situation.

Governor Fashola emphasized that the nation cannot solve the problem of poverty, unemployment and hunger by continuous resort to strikes or the pursuit of violence.

"Strikes stop the production cycle totally or at least impede it further; while violence creates insecurity which takes away the peaceful environment that is required for productive activity and economic growth to take place.

"While poverty, unemployment and hunger are intolerable in a country that is so richly endowed, the truth is that we have had one strike too many for there to be a consistent period of expected productive change", the Governor stated.

He added that the present administration has continued to aggressively pursue policies that will lighten the burden of the people's daily existence by passing laws to protect the physically challenged, to protect women and also regulate landlord and tenants' relationships as well as its housing programme.

"Indeed, one of the promises I made on October 1st 2010 was the Lagos Ignite Enterprise and Employability Project, which has produced employment for graduates in the teaching and agricultural sectors of our economy and some more are in training as we finalise the plans to expand these opportunities in the health sector through the training of nurses".

He cited from the e-mail received from a citizen, Mrs Mosunmola Oki-Adeniji on September 25, which stated that though Lagos is a work in progress, the beliefs, hopes and faith in the possible drive both the leadership and followership in the State and imbue them with courage to push forward irrespective of the knowledge that there could be obstacles in the way adding that not being afraid of such obstacles often turn the tide.

The Lagos State Governor urged all residents to pursue the path of courage and hardwork which would make all obstacles to be afraid of the nation.

Prominent among those who participated in the march past are men of the Fire Service, Civil Defence Corps, Neighbourhood Watch, Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, Vehicle Inspection Officers (VIO), Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI) Brigade, Girls Guide, Boys Scout and Students from Lagos State on training as Seafarers from Alexandria University, Egypt who are on State Scholarship and are expected to become captains and engineers.

The event was witnessed by the Deputy Governor, Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, members of the State Executive Council, the Body of Permanent Secretaries, the Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu I, the Commissioner for Police, Mr Yakubu Alkali, heads of military formations in the State and school pupils from the six educational districts among others.