20th October, 2011
The Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Hon. Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire has made an appeal to traditional rulers and leaders of thought in the country to ensure the peaceful co-existence of the subjects within their domain regardless of their tribe or religion, adding that it is only when Nigerians co-habit peacefully that government can provide the basic amenities for their development.
Hon. Adefulire was speaking at the tenth anniversary of the Organization for Research of World Peace (ORWP) a non-governmental organization focused on the promotion of peace around the world, which is being promoted in Nigeria by a renowned traditional ruler in Lagos, the Ojomu of Ajiranland, Oba Adetunji Akinloye.
The Deputy Governor who represented the Lagos State Governor at the event noted that the state government appreciates the contribution of the Centre to the development of Lagos and also identifies with its programmes, which is also making meaningful impact in the peaceful co-habitation of all the ethnic groups of the country that are represented in the State.
She admonished all other traditional rulers in the State and the country at large to take a cue from the ORWP and use their position as the custodian of culture and norms to ensure that every Nigerian in any part of the country is given the opportunity and enabling environment to live peacefully and develop maximally without any form of victimization or coercion.
“We must acknowledge the role of the ORWP in bringing about peace in our state and country at large and while doing this, we must also emulate our traditional ruler and ensure that we all become peace ambassadors in our various communities and localities while preaching the message of peace and toleranceâ€, she added.
The Deputy Governor assured the Center and its promoters that the State government will continue to support the ORWP initiative and other similar organizations designed for the benefit of the people, adding that government had always reiterated that it cannot alone address all the issues affecting the people, hence the support and collaboration of non-governmental organizations and private concerns.