Gov. Fashola Advocates Tolerance, Restraint, Brotherhood to secure peace in the Country

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As Governor attends Jumat Prayers in commemoration of 2014 Armed Forces Remembrance Week
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN) on Friday advocated tolerance, restraint, brotherhood and unity of purpose among Nigerians as a means to secure the peace which was won over the years for the nation by the sacrifice of officers and men of her Armed Forces.

Governor Fashola, who spoke in an interview with newsmen after the Jumat prayers held at the Secretariat Central Mosque, Alausa, as part of the 2014 Armed Forces Remembrance Week celebration, also charged all Nigerians to always remember to extend “a caring hand, a hand of concern and a hand of help” to the families of those of them who lost their lives in the process as a mark of appreciation.

The Governor stressed that in that way the work of the nation’s security agencies and men and women would become less onerous, if the people on whose behalf they act to secure peace agree to live in peace. According to him, the occasion was an opportunity to send a message of comfort to the children, wives and husbands of deceased and fallen officers and men who have had to pay the supreme sacrifice.

“That peace has been won by a lot of bloodshed of soldiers, officers and men over the years, it is important now that we secure that peace as a nation by restraint, by brotherliness, by love for one another, by tolerance and by a common unity of purpose that we seek as a people to live in peace”, he said.

Governor Fashola noted that it was also an opportunity to send a message of appreciation to all the members of the Nigeria Armed Forces on the occasion of the annual Remembrance Day for their solemn sacrifice, the ultimate and supreme sacrifice that they and those before them have made in order to keep this country safe.

“As I have said repeatedly that is the only profession that I am aware of where the precondition for employment is a contract to give up your life whenever it is necessary to do so and that is why we must continue to appreciate the work that they do, the sacrifice they offer to make and the sacrifice that they have consistently made”, he added.

Also speaking in an interview, the Chief Imam of the Army Cantonment, Ikeja, Major Kareem Mohammed, said the occasion is a day set aside to remember the fallen heroes who fought for the corporate existence of the Nigerian nation.

“We are here to pray for the soul of the fallen heroes, those who fought in the First and Second World Wars and those who fought in the Civil War and all the crises that have been going on in Nigeria”, Major Mohammed added.

Prominent among those who observed the prayers alongside the Governor are Senator representing Lagos West Senatorial District, Senator Ganiyu Solomon, members of the State Executive Council including Commissioners for Home Affairs and Culture, Hon Oyinlomo Danmole, Works and Infrastructure, Dr Obafemi Hamzat and Special Adviser on Political and Legislative Matters, Hon Muslim Folami, among other notables.