Ethnicity, religion unifying factors in Lagos- Official
…as state to mark Nigeria’s 59th independence anniversary
Lagos State commissioner for home affairs and culture, Uzamat Akinbile-yussuf has reaffirmed the commitment of government to ethic and religious harmony in the state.
Akinbile- Yussuf, who briefed newsmen alongside her counterpart in the ministry of information and strategy, Gbenga Omotosho, on the activities to mark Nigeria’s 59th Independence anniversary, said rather than religion causing instability in Lagos, it would continue to be a unifying factor.
She said Lagos being the capital of Nigeria at independence on October 1, 1960 would be rolling out drums to celebrate this year’s independence anniversary.
She said that the peaceful co-existence of the two major religions in Nigeria – Christianity and Islam, while ensuring that other religious beliefs are not left out, was worth celebrating.
“The state government through the Nigeria Inter Religious Council (NIREC), has ensured that issues bordering on religion that could easily degenerate to acrimony are nipped in the bud through consultations, consolidation and dialogue.’’
Religion, which is a source of instability in other states, has remained our own source of strength and unity in Lagos. We make bold to say that Lagos is only state in Nigeria that has truly upheld the vision of the founding fathers of Nigeria and those who fought for our independence as a nation.
“The likes of Nnamdi Azikiwe, Obafemi Awolowo, Ahmadu Bello, Pa Enahoro and others will be happy in their graves seeing what Lagos stands for and how we have held Nigeria together as a nation. Today, there is no tribe or tongue that is not represented in Lagos,” she said.
These, she said, were the reasons why the independence celebration is dear to Lagos and would not spare any expense to mark it.
On activities lined up, Akinbile-yussuf said that the deputy governor, Kadri Obafemi Hamzat would lead the members of the state executive council and other Muslim faithful, to the secretariat mosque, Alausa, for Jumat service and special prayers for continuous peaceful coexistence of Lagos in particular and Nigeria in general on Friday, September 27, while the state governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-olu is billed to lead the executive council members and other dignitaries to the Chapel of Christ the Light, secretariat, Alausa, Ikeja, for a church service on Sunday, September 29.
According to her, “the grand finale of this year’s celebrations would be an exhibition of arts and crafts depicting the chronicle of events surrounding Nigeria’s independence to date, while the climax would be a fun fiesta at the Police College ground,’ Ikeja GRA.