Buhari, Fashola in Church Service, Urge Nigerians to Thank God

The presidential candidate of All Progressives
Congress (APC) Major General Muhammadu
Buhari (rtd) and Lagos State Governor, Mr.
Babatunde Fashola, on Sunday attended the
annual thanksgiving church service organised
by the Lagos State Government in partnership
with the General Overseer of Redeemed
Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch A.
Adeboye at Lagos House, Ikeja.
Theyurged all Nigerians to give thanks to God
in spite of challenges Nigeria has been facing
in the past years.
The thanksgiving service was also attended
by Rivers State Governor, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi,
APC National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-
Oyegun and Buhari’s running mate, Prof.
Yemi Osinbajo, among others who urged
Nigerians to give thanks despite all odds.
But Buhari said he was honoured “to be part
of the thanksgiving service, noting that the
2015 edition brought together all Nigerians in
Lagos State including Christians, Muslim and
all religion in Lagos to thank God Almighty.
The presidential candidate explained that
religion should 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.”
He said 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.”
Disturbed by the avaluation of evil
prophesies, Fashola appealed to the prophets
of doom not “to prophesy evil things about
Nigeria and our state,” expressing hope that
the country would surmount her challenges.
In an emotional manner, Fashola snappily
reflected on different challenges which the
country went through in 2014 and came out
strong, saying his countrymen should give
thanks to God despite all the situations.
Fashola explained that 365 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, thus, warned the prophets of doom to
desist from predicting evil things about the
country, noting that he had no doubt that
Nigeria and Lagos “are parts of the earth that
God created and will survive their challenges.
“I will like to appeal to all those who predict
bad things for our state and our country to
see the glass as half-full. I have no doubt
that this country and this state are part of
the earth that God created. Yes, men may
have passed laws and given names to
territories.
“But the earth is the Lord’s. So, let men be
men, and let God be God, because his will
shall be done. Finally, as you all know, there
is a time and season for everything. There is
a time to start and a time to end,” Fashola
added.
He, therefore, urged the citizens “to focus on
our common humanity, and those things that
we share together and focus less on those
things that are different about us. 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.”
He noted that the thanksgiving service where
his tenure “is coming to an end. In 55 days,
elections will be conducted and in 144 days
my tenure will end. A new governor will start
his own journey and next year’s Thanksgiving
will be hosted by him and not me.”
He, therefore, asked the residents to choose
wisely, urging them “to choose experience. I
hope you will not experiment. I have said
repeatedly that I do not see ethnic groups. I
see Lagos residents, who contribute to the
development of their state. But I cannot
change the way people choose to see
themselves.”