Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has urged people in the state to embrace religious tolerance as this would enable them to live together in peace and harmony.
The Governor said that cordial relationship among religious organisations would engender oneness, and create an ambience of togetherness in the State.
Sanwo-Olu stated this in Lagos at the Turbaning ceremony of a Veteran Journalist and Public Affairs Officer, Sheikh Abdul-Salam Akoshile as Grand Khalifa, Tijaniyya of Lagos State Forum.
Governor Sanwo-Olu who was represented by his Special Adviser on Islamic Affairs, Dr. Abdullahi Jebe assured that the state government would continue to support religious organisations in the state while promoting tolerance among them through the National Inter-Religious Council, (NIREC).
The Governor said the relative peace being enjoyed by the State over the years could be attributed to the cordial environment created by the State for religious bodies to exercise their faith freely.
According to him: “All hands are on deck. We bring everyone together when the government is making a policy. We ensure that people are carried along because they are part of the policy.
“Tolerance and uplifting of the living standards of the people is all that we are about in Lagos State.
“Government is about the people and when you talk about the people, you talk about religion.
“There is no way the government can run a state without bringing together people of all religions.
Religion is part of governance and Lagos has been the pacesetter of all the states,” he noted.
He also explained that “NIREC brings together people of all religions. We put heads together. Lagos is the only state that brings people across all its local government areas to see the religious affairs of people. Muslims and Christians come together to see the affairs of the people. If there is any religious issue, they intervene to resolve the conflicts.”
In his Opening Remarks, the Vice Chancellor, University of Abuja, Abdul-Rasheed Na’Allah prayed for divine wisdom and good health for the Celebrant to be able to carry out the tasks ahead in the Forum.
Full of praises
On his part, the new Grand Khalifa of Lagos State Tijaniyya Forum in an interview, thanked Allah for the grace and the State Governor for honouring him with his presence at the event as well as the leadership of the forum for giving him the opportunity to serve.
He promised to use his wealth of knowledge and experience with the population of his followers to support the State developmental agenda across board.
Prayers were offered by Muslim Clerics at the event for the success of the Grand Khalifa, Tijaniyya of Lagos State Forum.
