23rd September, 2023
As Nigeria marks her 63rd anniversary in a few days to come, the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu has urged all citizenry to support the new government in its Renewed Hope’s Mantra.
Sanwo-Olu who was represented by the Deputy Governor, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat at a Special Prayer Session organized to commemorate the 63rd National Independence Day Celebration, held today at the Lagos Secretariat Community Central Mosque, Alausa said Nigerians, irrespective of their political and religious affiliations should support their government, at all levels in their quest for a better Nigeria.
Sanwo-Olu noted that Nigerians must strive to sustain the peace that the government is aiming to achieve, saying that the government is trying to eradicate the different challenges currently being experienced in the country.
This, according to him, enables free movement within the country, anytime, any day, adding that “we know that there is no crime-free society but our prayer is that we are able to sustain peace in the country so that Nigerians can be free”.
While reiterating the need to support the leaders, he said during the campaign, all the presidential candidates spoke on the need for removal of the fuel subsidy, but after the removal, people started criticizing the policy instead of coming up with recommendations or ideas.
The governor, therefore, charged Nigerians to desist from degrading their institutions and cease commenting on issues they don’t have adequate information.
The governor noted that the government has a clear agenda which is encapsulated in the THEMES PLUS; Transportation and Traffic Management; Health and Environment; Education and Technology; Making Lagos State a 21st Century Megacity, Entertainment & Tourism; and Security & Governance; Social Inclusion, Gender Equality and Youth Empowerment, and as such, the different ministries are arranged in line with these objectives with the Commissioners already getting acquitted with what they are to do.
Sanwo-Olu charged parents to protect their children as they are subject to peer influences on social media and in public places.
He urged parents to always communicate with their children, guide them, and to make them understand what is right and what is wrong.
He, therefore, admonished Nigerian youths not to be involved in drug abuse and all other forms of negative vices but to be careful because what they put into their system may have negative effects that may lead to death.
Earlier in his sermon, Sheikh Ahmad Saed charged Nigerians to be thankful to God for the country’s continued corporate existence in the last 63 years despite all the challenges, noting that the country is blessed with human and natural resources which other nations of the world crave.
Sheikh Saed advised the government to take advantage of the country’s population which can be gainfully managed and deployed into galvanizing the production sector of the economy.
In his words, ‘’the government should be able to mitigate our challenges and fix them through the deployment of resources to engendering solutions and create jobs for the larger population after proper and genuine stakeholders interactions’’.
The Commissioner for Home Affairs, Hon. Ibrahim Layode appreciated all present at the event, stating that all religious leaders in the country have a responsibility to use their Pulpit to preach tolerance, patriotism and the need for heightened moral values in the family unit.
The Jumat Special prayer was attended by members of the State Executive Council, the outgoing Head of Service and newly appointed Private Secretary to President Bola Tinubu, Mr. Hakeem Muri-Okunola, members of the Body of Permanent Secretaries, Islamic Clerics and other top government functionaries.
The 63rd National Independence Day Celebration continues with an Interdenominational Thanksgiving Service on Sunday, 24th September, 2023 at the Chapel of Christ The Light and the main Parade at the Onikan Stadium on Sunday, 1st October, 2023.