Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State has called for enhanced cooperation and collaboration among Muslims, Christians and other faiths at the grassroots, to deepen religious freedom and promote tolerance, understanding and good neighbourliness for which Lagos is reputed.
He said this was the only way to engender continued peace and progress in the state.
Speaking through AbdulLateef Abdulhakeem, his commissioner for home affairs at the swearing in of members and inauguration of Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC) at the local level in Lagos, Ambode noted that since NIREC was established at the national level, Lagos had been proactive by going ahead to establish the state chapter of NIREC, and by consciously upgrading and enhancing NIREC’s operations at the local government level.
The governor said Lagos was occupying prime position among other states in the country, principally because the state “does not joke with the issue of spirituality content of development, and in turn the spiritual leaders have not abandon the state,” and with their prayers all his achievements “become possible, beneficial and meaningful.”
He commended the state chapter of NIREC for always nipping in the bud potential religious crises as a result of which Lagos had not recorded any religious conflict.
To increase from NIREC initiative therefore, he said, it has become necessary to take NIREC to the local levels, noting that his administration “is about the people in the grassroots.
“Today marks a milestone in the anal of governance in the State as NIREC is introduced to the local government authorities and local council development areas; today is another promised fulfilled.”
Admonishing the NIREC members in his own capacity, Abdulhakeem reminded them that Christianity and Islam shared a lot in common, and if all the people in the communities were made to understand this, there would not be any reason for conflict.
