Benjamin Omoike l Saturday, March 24, 2018
IKEJA, Lagos, Nigeria – Leaders of various religious bodies under the aegis of Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC), on Thursday stressed the need to deepen religious harmony in Lagos especially, as well as the nation at large; just as they endorsed governor Akinwunmi Ambode for a second term in office.
They also said the Land Use Charge review by the state government is in sync with the reality of the times and commensurate with the level if development currently experienced in the state.
The call came as Abul-Hakeem Abdul-Lateef, the state Commissioner for Home Affairs, charged the religious leaders to use the pulpit to preach love and encourage their followers to support policies and programmes aimed at improving the welfare of all, as, according to him, Ambode means well for Lagos.
The clerics spoke at the first quarterly meeting of religious leaders and faith-based organisations, held in Lagos, to further entrench religious harmony and strengthen the existing peace and stability in the state. NIREC is comprised of Christian and Islamic bodies.
Speaking at the meeting, 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. According to Yusuf, 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 nipped in the bud.
The religious leader, observed that the Boko Haram 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 level lived up to expectation. He said peace and religious harmony were necessary to advancement and development at any level, assuring that religious bodies would rally around Ambode to actualise his second term ambition, adding that one good term deserves another.
Also speaking, Alexander Bamgbola, co-chairman of NIREC, Lagos chapter, who doubles as chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), said Lagos is a state that enjoys 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 in infrastructure development.
Special Adviser to the Governor on Taxation, Lasisi AbdulFatai, who explained the rationale behind the amendment of the Land Use Charge, LUC to the religious leaders while urging them to take the message back to their followers; said the LUC law had been in existence since 2001 and was only reviewed in line with the growing profile of the state as a Smart City.
Meanwhile, Abdul-Lateef, Commissioner for Home Affairs, whose office supervises the activities of religious bodies in the state, said the meeting was a platform to making the two major religions see themselves as one.
According to the 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 continues to stand out.
