Buhari, Fashola in Church Service,
Buhari, Oyegun, Amaechi,
Osinbajo Storm Lagos For
Thanksgiving Service
George Okojie
— Jan 5, 2015 | 2 Comments
The presidential candidate of All
Progressives Congress (APC), General
Muhammadu Buhari, APC national
chairman, Chief John Odigie Oyegun,
Rivers State governor Mr. Rotimi Amaechi
and the party’s vice presidential
candidate, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, were
amongst eminent dignitaries that stormed
Lagos State yesterday for the 2015
annual thanksgiving service.
Speaking at the interdenominational
thanksgiving service hosted by the Lagos
State Governor, Babatunde Fashola (SAN)
and his wife, Abimbola at the Lagos
House , Alausa, Ikeja, Buhari said he
believes every Nigerian should be free and
secured to practice their different religion.
Buhari, in the service that was presided
over the General Overseer of the
Redeemed Christian Church of God
(RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye and other
exalted clergy said, “I am honoured to
participate in this annual thanksgiving
service. This year thanksgiving service
brings together all Nigerians from all
states, Christians, Muslims and all
religion in Lagos to thank the almighty
God.
“Religion must never be used as an
excuse to divide us, oppress others or
gain unfair advantage. All my life I have
expressed the belief that all Nigerians
must worship God according to their
wish.”
Buhari dressed in dark Kaftan added that,
“The duty of government is not religion,
security for all Nigerians regardless of
tribe or religion is our commitment on this
day of thanksgiving. We shall all seat
together like this, rejoice and thank God
together for the Almighty God to give us
the country of our dream.”
Fashola had earlier lampooned certain
individuals predicting doom for the
country and the state in guise of religion,
saying the predictions were heating up
the polity.
He said the state government deemed it
fit to hold thanksgiving service for sparing
the lives of the people amid calamities
rocking the country.
Fashola said,”Today, 364 days after,
when girls have disappeared without
trace, bombs have exploded in mindless
orgies of violence.
“Nigerian towns and villages have been
sacked. Our brothers and sisters have
been displaced from their homes. Young
children have died in stampedes while
looking for jobs.
“Some of our brothers and sisters in the
military have lost their lives while trying
to defend you and I and the fatherland.
“I ask you all what else we can do than to
give thanks, express our gratitude and
praise God for surviving.”
He said it is important for people to know
that they are alive not because they are
better,but because of grace and mercy
which should never take it for granted.
“Our appreciation must be reflected in our
attitude of gratitude. In some parts of
West Africa today, government has been
forced to declare a lock down of people
and restrict movement in this season of
festivity because an infectious disease
caused by the Ebola virus is yet to be
brought under control.
“These countries are smaller than Lagos,
Lagos is in fact bigger than many of them
combined. Yet the same virus afflicted us,
we sadly lost 13 lives, but today we are
not under lock down.
“We can sit side-by-side, we can shake
hands and we can move freely. Again
there was grace, there was a coming
together across ethnic, religious and
government levels to address a common
problem.”
He said it was high time the people
focused their common humanity, and
those things that they share together and
focus less on those things that are
different about them.
According to him, “Our languages, our
religion, our ethnic origins are accidents
of our birth and not the essential content
of our humanity. If our creator wanted us
to be the same it is not difficult for him
to do so.
“Your faith is not better than mine, and if
you think it is, I cannot quarrel with your
opinion. You must respect my right to
practice mine. That is why we gather
today in the Centre of Excellence to thank
and praise God together, Christians of
different denominations, Moslems with
different affiliations and traditionalists,
because we are all grateful. That is the
Spirit of Lagos.”
He used the opportunity to solicit support
for APC candidates , saying “I hope you
will choose wisely, I hope you will choose
experience. I hope you will not
experiment.”
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