Fashola urges tolerance

[Mirror]

Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola yesterday called on Nigerians to continue to tolerate one another for the nation-building.

Speaking shortly after observing Eid-El Fitr prayers at Dordan Barracks in Obalende, he described tolerance as one of the major strengths of the country.

The governor urged Nigerians to allow the aura of love that permeated the country during the Ramadan period to continue.

Fashola said: "The graceful and special month of Ramadan has come to a very glorious end. My message would be that the love, the concern, the brotherhood, the peace with which we related before and during Ramadan in particular should continue.

"The peaceful co-existence, the respect and tolerance we have for our diversity, the way we have used our diversity to create strength, to prosper our lives, are the ingredients that we need for continued nation-building and I urge all Nigerians, irrespective of faith, irrespective of ethnic origins to continue to live peacefully in Lagos, knowing that this is home and they are all welcomed to do that and respect each other's belief, respect each other's sensibility.

"In that tolerance, we can really harness the diversity that God has blessed us with to develop a better state and a much more prosperous nation."

Earlier in his sermon, the Chief Imam of Lagos, Sheikh Garba Akinola Ibrahim, urged Nigerians to eschew violence and embrace love and respect for one another.

He said: "During the month of Ramadan, all evil things that would make us sinners before Allah were avoided, now that the month of Ramadan has passed away, we should not go back to the evil deeds. What is not good in the month of Ramadan is not good in all other months."

The Lagos State Secretariat Mosque also called on Nigerians to fear God and imbibe the lessons of Ramadan.

The mosque hosted over 500 Muslims for the last 10 days of Ramadan known as itikaf to enable them seek for the night of majesty.

Speaking after the tworakat Eid-Ei-Fitr prayers held at the premises of the mosque at Alausa, the state Solicitor- General and chairman of the mosque, Mr. Lawal Pedro (SAN), said: "The end of Ramadan does not signify an end to the good conduct and other good character exhibited during the Holy month.

"Ramadan is the period where Allah wants people regardless of their status to feel the pain of hunger like the poor. It represents the total way of Life and it is to fulfill the commandment of Allah. It is a period everyone must show mercy to other people around.

"We must, therefore, continue to be prayerful, kind and pious. We must also continue to be generous. Those are lessons and virtues of Ramadan we must continue to uphold.

He urged Muslims to always observe other pillars of Islam such as Zakat, five daily prayer and Hajj.

Pedro, however, faulted the judgement of the Court of Appeal that set Major Hamzat Al-Mustapha, the Chief Security Officer (CSO) to the late Head of State, Gen. Sani Abacha, free of complexity over the murder of Alhaja Kudirat Abiola, the wife of the acclaimed winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, Chief MKO Abiola.

National Mirror

[Folami David]

Gov Raji Fashola has said the right thing....Tolerance is one of the virtues that can promote a human being or a nation.