Religious leaders endorse Ambode for second term

Leaders of various religious bodies under the aegis of Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC) on Thursday endorsed Governor Akinwunmi Ambode for second term in office.

They also stressed the need to deepen religious harmony in the state.

The clerics spoke at the first quarterly meeting of religious leaders and faith-based organisations, held in Lagos, Southwest Nigeria to further entrench religious harmony and strengthen the existing peace in the state. NIREC is comprised of Christian and Islamic bodies.

Tajudeen Yusuf, Chairman of NIREC, Lagos chapter, said the endorsement was in recognition of the modest efforts of Ambode in infrastructural development and the maintenance of peace and religious harmony in Lagos.

He said Ambode’s approval of the existence of NIREC, not only at state level, but across the 20 local governments, and 37 local council development areas of the state, has ensured that issues capable of triggering religious crisis in Lagos, are nib in the bud.

The religious leader who observed that the Boko Haram’s crisis and its attendant loss of lives and properties in the northern part of the country could have been avoided had NIREC at the national lived up to expectation, said peace and religious harmony was necessary to advancement development at any level, assured that religious bodies would rally around Ambode to actualise his second term ambition, adding “one good term deserves another”.

Also, Alexander Bamgbola, co-chairman of NIREC, Lagos chapter, who doubles as chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), said Lagos is a state that enjoyed the special grace of God.

The CAN chairman who described Ambode as a listening governor, called for the support of the citizens for the government to enable it do more especially infrastructure development.

Abul-Hakeem Abdul-Lateef, Commissioner for Home Affairs charged the religious leaders to use the pulpits to preach love and encourage their followers to support’s policy and programmes aimed at improving the welfare of all as “Ambode means well for Lagos”.

Abdul-Lateef said the meeting was a platform to making the two major religions see themselves as one.

According to Abdul-Lateef, while NIREC at the national level has been unable to function effectively, Lagos has continued to show example of how Christians, Moslems and other beliefs should co-exist.

The commissioner, who thanked the religious leaders for endorsing Ambode for second term in office, assured that the state government would continue to do all within its powers to ensured that Lagos continued to stand out.