Benjamin Omoike l Monday, June 18, 2018
LAGOS, Nigeria – Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos says ensuring peace, love and harmony among Muslims, and indeed Lagosians, were part of reasons why his government decided to fete faithful of the religion in 20 centres across the state. He added that the gesture was also in furtherance of his Administration’s policy of inclusive governance and the need to reach out to every member of the society, especially those who may not have been able to enjoy the Sallah celebration owing to their financial status or other reasons.
It would be recalled that the governor, along with his wife, Mrs. Bolanle Ambode, celebrated. Eid-Ul-Fitri with Muslims simultaneously in Lagos, at designated locations in each of the 20 Local Government Areas across the state. At these venues, apart from the usual merriment associated with such festivals, Muslims had the opportunity to pray for sustainability of peace and continuation of unprecedented development for Lagos and for governor Ambode, as well as his wife, and other members of his family; for many successes recorded so far in the third-year of Administration.
Decentralised form of Eid-Ul-Fitri celebration were successfully held in 2017 for the first time in each of the 20 Local Government Areas, where governor Ambode pledged to continue to meet with the people during important religious festivals, stating that grassroots participation, involvement and identification to enhance spirituality “is central to sustainability of peaceful coexistence and religious harmony, bringing unprecedented accomplishments being experienced in Lagos.”
The governor says he believes that prayer has been playing pivotal roles in the rapid development and tranquility that prevails in Lagos, and has been actively supporting initiatives that will promote socio-economic growth, infrastructural expansion, enhancement of security, increment of safety and happiness of the people.
Prior to the 2017 celebration of Eid-El-Fitri at the grassroots, state participation in religious festivals usually held at the State House; a situation which excluded participation of large segments of the people.
Since the last Eid-El-Fitri Get-Together, however, governor Ambode and his wife had celebrated Eid-El-kabir and Christmas in similar ways in 2017.
This year’s Eid-El-Fitri was celebrated in the following centres across the 20 Local Government Areas and people were directed to attend any one of the venues that fell within their Local Government or Local Government Development Areas as follows: Agege LG: Agege Local Government Maternity Centre, Sango Agege. Ajeromi LG: Aga Hausa, Ajegunle, Ajeromi Ifelodun LG, Alimosho LG: Alimosho Local Government Secretariat Premises, Akowonjo Amuwo Odofin LG: Amuwo Odofin Local Government Secretariat, Festac.
Others were Apapa LG: United Christian Primary Sch. Apapa water works, off Liverpool Rd Badagry LG: Badagry Grammar School Badagry
Epe LG: Marina Waterfront Oju Alaro Eti-Osa LG: World Oil Filling Station, Ilasan junction before Jakande Round about, Eti -Osa
Ibeju LG. Iberekodo Primary School, Ibeju Ifako Ijaye LG: Ifako Ijaye Mini Stadium, beside Ifako-Ijaye General Hospital Ikeja LG.: Opebi primary school, Ikeja.
Ikorodu LG. Ikorodu Town Hall , Kosofe LG: Emmanuel High Primary High sch. Emmanuel High Street, off Ogdu Road, Ojota Lagos Island LG: 64, Freeman Street, Lagos , Lagos Mainland LG: Evans Square, Carter/Simpson Street, Ebute Metta, Lagos. Mushin LG: Nitel Playing Ground Agege Motor Road Cappa Ojo LG: Ojo Local Govt. Secretariat, Olojo Drive, Ojo Town Oshodi LG: Oshodi-Isolo Lovcal Govt Secretariat Premises,Somolu LG: Angus Memorial High School, Opposite Army Barrack, Morocco. Surulere: Surulere Local Government Secretariat Premises.
