Ethnicity, Religious Intolerance Will Devour Us – Fashola

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola has appealed to Nigerians to be sober and reflect on Nigeria in early sixties when the citizens saw themselves as just Nigerians irrespective of tribe, tongue or religion, stressing that things have changed as a result of myopic self and group interests.

This development he said has created an octopus in shape of ethnicity and religious intolerance, which is threatening to devour our collective heritage.

That octopus, he explained is embedded in the twin evils of ethnic and religious intolerance. Fashola who made the observation in his New Year message said the problems afflicting the country are self-inflicted whether it is the downturn in the economy or the worsening security situation.
He pleaded with Nigerians to resolve within the New Year to give impetus to the collective hope, dreams and expectations.

“To do this successfully, we must begin to believe in Nigeria and the Nigerian Project once more. We must start by defining for ourselves the kind of future that we want. It is only when we agree on this that we can unite our efforts towards recreating the Nigeria of our collective dreams and make it come true”, he said.

He promised that his administration will continue to make the people its focus by putting in place policies from which enormous advantages could be drawn for the people’s benefit .

“The policies and programmes such as the massive infrastructural renewal, greening and beautification as well as our investment in security and street lighting which we embarked on in the last six years have created thousands of jobs, both directly and indirectly, for our people.

“From these people-oriented programmes and many others, we have created new economies which were hardly there at the beginning. Night life and night economy, which had hitherto disappeared from our lives have been brought back”, the governor said pledging that the administration would continue on this trend till the end of its lifespan.

While wishing all Lagosians a prosperous New Year 2014, Fashola, advised all to continue to play their parts as good and law- abiding citizens. “Be vigilant and resist all attempts by detractors to distract us from our set goals. Our development plan encompasses the whole state and we will reach all parts with the quality service which we believe that you deserve”, the governor said.