By Oluwatope Lawanson
Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State has charged Nigerians on being patriotic and hopeful irrespective of challenges experienced.
Sanwo-Olu gave the advice during a Jumat Service and special prayer to commemorate the 63rd National Independence Day Celebration on Friday at the Lagos Secretariat Community Central Mosque, Alausa.
The governor who was represented by his Deputy, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, urged the people to be supportive and hopeful, saying that such act would give way to relief as a new Nigeria emerged.
According to him, Nigerians, irrespective of their political and religious affiliations should support the government at all levels in their quest for a better Nigeria.
“Nigeria is still way better compared to some countries currently facing war, natural disasters and other economic challenges,” Sanwo-Olu said.
He, therefore, urged the people at all levels to support President Bola Tinubu’s administration in its Renewed Hope mantra.
Sanwo-Olu advised against the act of pulling down the efforts of government while stressing that citizens had a responsibility to make the institutions work.
The governor also advised parents on guiding and protecting their children/wards as they were subjected to peer influences on social media and in public places.
“Parents should always communicate with their children, guide them and make them understand the difference between right and wrong,’’ he said.
The governor warned youths against drug abuse and all other forms of negative vices
He noted that the excessive use of drug abuse could lead to physical, social and emotional harm.
“The youths should be careful because what they put into their system may have negative effects that may lead to death,” Sanwo-Olu said.
The Commissioner for Home Affairs, Mr Ibrahim Lahore, advised religious leaders to use their pulpit to preach tolerance, patriotism and the need for heightened moral values in the family unit.
Earlier in his sermon, Sheikh Saheed Ahmad said Nigerians should be thankful to God for the country’s continued corporate existence in the last 63 years in spite of all the challenges faced.
Ahmad noted that the country was blessed with human and natural resources which other nations of the world craved for.
The cleric advised the government to take advantage of the country’s population which could be gainfully managed and deployed into galvanising the production sector of the economy.
“Government should mitigate our challenges and fix them through the deployment of resources to engendering solutions.
“They should create jobs for the larger population after proper and genuine stakeholders’ interactions, ” he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that in attendance at the Jumat service are, members of the State Executive Council; former Head of Service and newly-appointed Principal Secretary to the President, Mr Hakeem Muri-Okunola.
Others are, Elegushi of Ikate-Elegushi Kingdom, Oba Saheed Elegushi, members of the Body of Permanent Secretaries, Islamic clerics, top government functionaries, amongst others. (NAN)
