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Tag: Fashola

  • Fashola signs N489.69b budget into law

    Fashola signs N489.69b budget into law

    Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola yesterday signed the 2015 budget of N489.69billion into law.

    Fashola, who signed the budget at the State House, Marina, said it was earlier scheduled  for today but that he had to call it forward to enable him attend a national meeting fixed for tomorrow in Abuja by the All Progressive Congress (APC) so that Ministries, Departments and Agencies could continue with work while he is in Abuja.

    “We are a government that is open to planning; part of the planning is for government to set the budget for the beginning of the year. Lagos is the second state to sign the document after Ogun State, which is also an APC state.

    “When we presented the budget, there were financial challenges but as you know, our revenue has been based largely on our common contribution; that is how we build our common wealth here.

    “We need to be innovative, inventive and hard-working and that is what we have given in the last eight years and we won’t give anything less with the support of the people of Lagos. They are owners of this government and all of its service delivery programmes and I think as difficult and challenging as the revenue issue may be, we will consolidate and finish as many possible project as we can.”

    Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget Ben Akabueze said the oil price fall in the international market had been factored into the budget and hoped that the price would rise as the year progressed.

    He, however, noted that over 70 per cent of the state’s budget was sourced through the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).

  • Tinubu, Fashola, Ambode and baton of excellence

    For Lagos State, the last 15 years of civil administration had been an epic. Lagos has been able to live up to its alias as the “Centre of Excellence” as the successive administration continue to build on the foundation laid by the enigmatic pathfinder, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu who became governor when the democratic ship berthed on our shores way back in 1999.

    With a professional background steeped in private sector audit, Tinubu was quick to realize the need to depend less on federal allocation by shoring up the revenue base of the state. This feat was achieved through a systematic re-engineering of the internally generated revenue regimes by plugging loop holes and leakages, keeping within existing financial guidelines in a way that does not impose additional burden on the people.

    In addition, he initiated far reaching policies in all sectors of the socio-economic spectrum such as transportation, education, judiciary, health, environment, commerce and industry as symbolized by the Lekki Free Trade Zone and other initiatives. The Enron initiative still remained unbeaten in the power sector in terms of constancy and quantity. Many a times in the history of our power supply, it has remained the only source of supply.

    His reforms in the judicial sector was quite legendary as governments, state and federal and some other African nations were falling on themselves to adopt the Lagos model in a bid to enhance their justice system.

    To ensure that these policies endure beyond the lifetime of his administration, he created institutions that will not only sustain the initial gains but to ensure that the policies and programmes continue to evolve to meet up with time dynamics.

    An astute statesman and strategist that he was and still is, Tinubu played safe with his choice of Babatunde Raji Fashola as successor, a capable hand he styled as the “The Best Man for The Job” to steer the ship of the state after him. Ever since, Lagos State and its people have been the better for it as the state continues to move from one level of advancement to the next. Tinubu has become the powerhouse of grooming successful leaders in Nigeria, a feat, yet unequalled in the history of the country.

    The Fashola administration has redefined the art of governance in the country through its numerous innovative and creative programmes and projects. He strongly demonstrated that with a focused, visionary leadership, and hard work, the Nigerian of our dream is not unattainable.

    From the outset, Fashola set out to do government business in an unusual fashion; completely different from what we are used to. That is why he always affirms an Albert Einstein’s maxim that: “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results”.

    Hence, Fashola set out to place Lagos among the prime investment hubs, not only in Africa, but in the whole world. His vision is to build a Lagos that is similar to reputable cities like London, Mumbai, Istanbul, Sao Paulo, Jakarta, Delhi, Dubai, Bangkok, and Cairo among others. With the relative success of the State Security Trust Fund in taming crimes in the state, Lagos has become the preferred point for investors as the business atmosphere has become predictable and stabilized.

    Lagos is safer today by any standard of the world. The state government’s intervention in the work environment in the areas of training, equipment, logistics and motivation and other crime management measures continue to yield results.

    Many have been trying to analyze the Fashola phenomenon in Lagos. Some analysts are of the view that the governor succeeded because he has a passionate commitment to connecting with the people, particularly the ordinary man on the street, and building their trust in the sincerity and noble intentions of his government. Others, however, ascribe Fashola’s success to his rugged determination to leave an indelible footprint in the sands of time. This, according to pundits, has really made him to focus totally on governance. Quite a few also attribute the success of the administration to the assemblage of a crack team of committed individuals, an intricate blend of professionals, administrators, scholars and politicians.

    It’s only a few months to the end of the Fashola administration, yet there are indications that the progressive train of governance in Lagos is not, in any way, ready to berth. The emergence of Akinwunmi Ambode as the gubernatorial candidate of the ruling party in the state, the All Progressive Congress, APC, is another indication that the party is not in short supply of capable hands to keep the state on the path of growth and progress.

    With the intimidating credentials of this candidate, it is indicative that the tradition of excellence in the state is about to soar to a higher heights. It is difficult to fault this line of reasoning for many reasons. For one, everything about Ambode sparks of brilliance and excellence.  At 21, he graduated in style in Accounting from the University of Lagos, Akoka. At the age of 24, when many of his contemporaries were yet to find their bearings in life, Ambode had earned a Master’s degree in Accounting and had also became a Chartered Accountant.

    It is, however, the selfless and committed stance of Ambode to the service of the government and people of Lagos that actually marks him out as a diligent and conscientious public administrator. An astute public servant, Ambode has had a highly illustrious and consummate career as a public sector accountant and administrator in Lagos State. In a most distinguished public service career spanning almost three decades, Ambode rose to become the Auditor General for Local Governments in the state, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Finance and Accountant General of Lagos State, a position he held till his voluntary resignation from the public service in 2012.

    A resourceful and ingenious administrator, part of Ambode’s enduring legacies as Accountant General of the state was the establishment of the State Treasury Office (STO), which transformed public sector financial budgeting, management, planning and expenditure in Lagos State. In his six years as Accountant-General, the financial position of the state recorded a great boost while budget performance averaged 85% per annum. A prudent and shrewd manager of public resources, Ambode strongly holds the view that public funds should be judiciously expended for the good of the people, whom it is primarily meant for.

    Indeed, Ambode’s meticulous process of re-engineering the state’s financial status was partly responsible for the development and sustenance of the Lagos mega city. The ingenuity of the Tinubu administration in overcoming difficulties and frustrations occasioned by the seized allocation of local government councils in the state by the Obasanjo administration has been traced to the amazing financial wizardry of Ambode. How the administration was able to stay afloat in those trying era remains a major talking point till date. Of course, there is no way that the political-economy of Lagos state of the period would be discussed without giving him a prime of place.

    With Ambode poised to take over from the incumbent, Fashola, as the state governor, Lagos would, indeed, be the better for it. The direction of things to come in the next few years became clearer recently when Fashola publicly presented the Lagos State Development Plan 2012-2025. The governor who publicly presented the document at the Banquet Hall of the Lagos House, Ikeja, with Ambode in attendance, added that infrastructure is being built to redress the infrastructure deficit that the state has suffered. He added that the Development Plan document is about the vision for the future and how it would affect the Lagos Mega City. The import of this development is that Ambode, when he eventually takes over from Fashola, already has a master plan with which he could realise his dream to take the state to a new level.

    The lesson to be learnt in the current development in Lagos is that continuity in governance, especially from one visionary leadership to the other is quite critical, for the social, economic and political stability of the polity. However, continuity must just not be embraced just for the sake of it. It must be laced with the attendant tradition of exemplary performance. Not the type of crude cluelessness we have been witnessing at the centre in recent times. Nigeria might have been a better place if the rudder of the ship is being steered by a person who has defined passion for the country and not a conscripted and unwilling individual. This is where Lagos differs. This is why Lagos continues to excel.

     

    • Raji is Special Adviser to Lagos State Governor on Information & Strategy.
  • Fashola swears in 57 executive secretaries

    Fashola swears in 57 executive secretaries

    Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola yesterday swore in 57 executive secretaries to direct the affairs of the state’s 20 local governments and 37 local council development areas.

    Fashola presided over the ceremony at the Adeyemi Bero Auditorium in Alausa.

    The event was witnessed by the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in the state, Akinwunmi Ambode, families of the new appointees as well as party chieftains and supporters.

    The governor explained that the state could not conduct elections to replace the elected chairmen, whose tenure expired in October, due to the inability of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to complete the process of compiling voters’ register on schedule.

    “While it is true that it is the State Independent Electoral Commission that is responsible for conducting this election, what may not be obvious to the public is that the registers used for the election are those compiled by INEC.

    “Compilation of voters registration is a federal responsibility that is carried out through INEC and by the time the tenure of the chairmen and councillors expired, all of us are aware that INEC was still conducting update of voter registration and that records were yet to be completed.

    “This has made it difficult to issue election notices, but I have found it necessary to continue the delivery of service at the local government level and this is why I have decided to inaugurate the executive secretaries, who will serve in a transitional capacity till the end of March.”

    The governor said the appointment of the executive secretaries was not an electoral process, but an exercise of his prerogative as provided by the constitution to prevent a vacuum in grassroots governance.

    Fashola said unlike in the past where sole administrators were appointed, the executive secretaries would work with four others.

    To the new appointees, the governor urged them to focus on service delivery to the people.

    “We expect you to focus on your primary responsibilities at the local government level. The first duty of any government is to secure lives and properties, so my first mandate to you is to go and integrate all members of your community, whatever part of Nigeria they come from, whatever religion they profess, whatever language they speak.

    “After this, then you can go ahead with your subsequent responsibilities to improve the quality of primary healthcare, primary education, sanitation and do the roads that you can do within the limits of the funds that will be available to you.”

    In their acceptance speeches, Omofunmilewa Adejombo (Agege), Jelili Sulaimon (Alimosho) and Princess Opeyemi Akindele (Mosan-Okunola), thanked the governor and party leaders for giving them the opportunity to serve.

    Adejombo promised to be dedicated and committed to improving the standard of living of the people.

    Sulaimon said he would introduce free feeding for primary school pupils in Alimosho.

    Princess Akindele promised to work with INEC officials to ensure that eligible voters in her council collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).

    Some of the newly sworn in Executive Secretaries include: Abayomi Daramola (Iru-Victoria Island); Ismail Bello (Coker Aguda); Sikiru Lawal (Ojo); Bola Olujobi (Oriade); Wale Azeez (Igando-Ikotun); Toyin Caxton-Martins (Ikoyi/Obalende); Princess Omolara Oyekan Olumegbon (Eti-Osa East); Mulikat Ajala (Itire-Ikate); Kunle Sanyaolu (Egbe-Idimu); Wahab Adigun (Ifelodun); Tajudeen Ojora (Ajeromi Ifelodun); Rasaq Kasali (Lekki); Habib Salami (Ibeju-Lekki); (Segun Jubril (Isolo), Fausat Hassan (Ojokoro); Moshood Abiola (Onigbongbo); Wasiu Adeshina (Ikorodu); Bayo Adebisi (Ikorodu North); Princess Aduni Oyefusi (Ikorodu West); Muyiwa Adesoya (Imota); Taiwo Orenuga (Igbogbo-Baiyeku); Toyosi Olusi (Lagos Island); Omotosho Lukman (Lagos Island East); Jide Bello (Mushin); and Rasak Ajala (Odi-Olowo).

    Others include, Abiodun Oresanya (Somolu); Oyoke Yahaya (Iba); Alabi David (Bariga); Olajobi Dauda (Oshodi); Tajudeen Alabi (Ejigbo); Dele Hussain (Surulere); David Famuyiwa (Agbado Oke-Odo); Ahmed Seriki (Epe); and Ajibola Ojodu (Amuwo Odofin).

  • Fashola swears in 57 Executive Secretaries for Lagos councils

    Fashola swears in 57 Executive Secretaries for Lagos councils

    Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN), on Monday swore in 57 Executive Secretaries expected to head the administration of the 20 Local Governments and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) in the state.

    Fashola presided over the ceremony held at the Adeyemi Bero Auditorium in Alausa and witnessed by the All Progressives Congress (APC) gubernatorial candidate in the state, Akinwunmi Ambode, families of the new appointees as well as chieftains and supporters of the party.

    The governor explained that the state could not conduct elections to replace the elected chairmen whose tenure expired in October last year, due to the inability of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to complete the process of compiling voters’ register on schedule.

    He said, “While it is true that it is the State Independent Electoral Commission that has the responsibility for conducting this election, what may not be obvious to the public is that the register used for the election, are those compiled by INEC, because compilation of voters registration is a federal responsibility that is carried out through INEC and by the time the tenure of the last local government chairmen and elected councilors expired, all of us are aware that INEC was still conducting update of voters registration and that record is still yet to be completed.

    “This has made it difficult to issue election notices, but I have found it necessary to continue the delivery of service at the local government level and this is why I have decided to inaugurate the executive secretaries, who will serve in a transitional capacity to the end of March, hoping that by then all will have been sorted out with the voters register, and then we go to the elections to elect officers into all levels in the local government structure.”

    The governor also noted that the appointment of the Executive Secretaries was not an electoral process, but the exercise of his prerogative as provided by the constitution to prevent vacuum in the grassroots governance.

     

  • Fashola: let’s embrace innate unity of purpose

    Fashola: let’s embrace innate unity of purpose

    Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola has urged Nigerians to embrace unity of purpose in the effort to deliver a free and fair election.
    In his New Year message to Nigerians, the governor said this was the time for Nigerians to tap into that strength to change those things which, over the years, have made the country lose face in the comity of nations.
    Fashola, who noted that as a country, Nigeria had made its mark globally, especially, in its contribution to global peace, said the nation has sacrificed men and materials to keep other nations stable.
    “It has led mostly from the front to bring political and economic stability to some nations, particularly in Africa.
    Reiterating that one important way the country could return to global reckoning was through the delivery of free and fair elections this year, the governor said the eyes of the world would be upon the country to prove that it was ready for greatness.
    “It is a year when we must redraw the picture of failure and perceived inability to govern ourselves which we have, hitherto presented to the outside world. It is a year when we must endeavour to reclaim our glory.
    “Our future greatness lies in our ability to move beyond rhetoric and practically rebrand our country and change the ugly picture that has unfortunately been presented to the world through the acts of very few of our countrymen, who are in the minority.
    “The way we use our votes will determine the nature and character of leadership we truly want. It will also demonstrate our ability and willingness to extricate ourselves from exploitation and servitude.
    “But most of all, our rightful use of our votes will demonstrate to the world that Nigeria has finally arrived to take its rightful place in the global community. We must not miss this chance. It may be our last.
    “I wish all Nigerians a prosperous new year. I urge Lagosians to retain the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state as a means to consolidate the achievements made and to ensure that the state remains the leader in all fronts of the nation’s development.”

  • Governor Fashola lights Bar Beach

    Governor Fashola lights Bar Beach

    To bring the yuletide decorations at the Eko Atlantic City to full use, Governor Babatunde Fashola, last Monday, turned on the switch that lit up the entire Bar Beach stretch with colourful lights, covering about 2 kilometres of different fun spots in the area.

    Tagged Festival of Lights ceremony, the exercise also marked the flag-off of the 2014 Crossover Festival, a world-class celebration of the close of the calendar year, as well as ushering in of the New Year, which is co-sponsored by Star Lager.

    According to Fashola, ‘‘The Countdown started as a last-few-days event; it has become a last-one-month event. But for me, the work is not finished. What we have done here for the last month of the year must now happen every month and from there on to every day; that is when the story will be complete.”

    He commended the sponsors of the event, who according to him, have demonstrated faith and trust by investing in the tourism ideals of Lagos State.

    The Star brand is the title sponsor of the Lagos Countdown for the second year running.

    The venue also houses the Star Beer Village, where the world record-breaking 8,000 bottles Star tree was erected.

  • Why there must be change at federal level in 2015 — Fashola

    Why there must be change at federal level in 2015 — Fashola

    Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN), Wednesday advanced reasons why change of leadership is expedient at the national level, saying Nigeria is too important both globally and continentally to be left in the hands of those who play politics with the lives of her citizens.

    Addressing the quality gatherings of members of the Yoruba Tennis Club  and their Island Club counterparts at their respective club houses in Onikan, Governor Fashola said the national government, formed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has failed to provide its most important responsibility, which according to him, is the security of life and property of citizens and protection of the territorial integrity of the nation.

    The Governor, who noted that Nigerians handed over a whole country to the ruling party in 2011, expressed regrets that the same party is now returning to Nigerians to ask for another leadership mandate with only part of the country, having lost some parts to insurgents.

    Noting that the party has reneged in its primary duty to secure the territorial integrity of Nigeria, the Governor warned, “They are returning now to ask for our votes with only a part of the country that we gave them because some parts of the country have been lost to people we didn’t elect. So, in that most important responsibility, they have dropped the ball”.

    He added: “That is the alternative that is being offered you in Lagos. The choice is yours”.

    Governor Fashola, who expressed dismay that the party has politicized everything, noted that nothing is too much for the party to sloganize about, recalling the way the national government played politics with the very sensitive issue of the more than 200 abducted secondary school girls in Chibok in Borno State.

    The Governor also recalled that the PDP-controlled Federal Government has also orchestrated  about how it made the country “the biggest economy in Africa”, wondering why smaller economies could provide electricity for their people while the self acclaimed “biggest economy” could keep her people in darkness.

    “Please ask them why smaller economies could get petrol easily for their people and why we have to queue for hours and days to get petrol in a biggest economy in Africa”, the Governor said, also wondering why the so-called biggest economy in Africa is trying to buy arms from a smaller economy to secure the country.

    He pointed out that the nation’s currency, the Naira, is now trading for N180 per Dollar, while the South African Rand is trading at R11 to one United States Dollar, adding that what matters is the quality of the life and prosperity of the citizens and not the size or number being bandied by the PDP-led government.

    To buttress his point on the little importance the Federal Government places on the economy of the country, Governor Fashola tasked the people to figure out  the last time the President went to present the annual budget in the National Assembly,  an obligation which, according to him, is a constitutional one.

    The Governor also noted that the Federal Government also played politics with the Ebola virus disease containment as it almost turned the very grave situation into a political trophy, “even though they knew little about how the battle was fought and won in Lagos which was the epicentre”.

    Conversely, Governor Fashola said the All Progressives Congress-controlled Lagos State Government has done well at many fronts, including the education, security, power and the financial sector in spite of the very precarious economic and security situation in the country.

     On education, the Governor expressed pride that the public confidence in public schools have risen tremendously, pointing out that a recent poll result on the issue returned 53 per cent of Lagosians preferring to have their children in state-owned primary schools as against 47 per cent that opt for private schools, while 69 per cent as against 31 per cent now prefer to have their children in state-owned secondary schools.

    He said in spite of the average West African Examination Council (WAEC) results, if the Lagos State result is isolated to stand on its own, the state has moved from seven per cent pass for students who obtained five credits at a sitting in 2007 to 45 per cent in 2014, Lagos standing alone.

    Attributing the success recorded in this area to the support and taxes of the residents, Governor Fashola told the audience, “When you understand the ratio of private schools to state schools, which is about four private schools to one state-owned school, you will appreciate the enormity of the task we undertake. But we are happy to undertake this challenge because Lagos is working with your support and with your taxes”.

    In the area of security, the Governor said the poll results also showed that 77 per cent of Lagosians now say they feel secure, while 89 per cent say crime has been greatly reduced, adding that “this is in spite of the increasing global crime index and Nigeria’s security challenges.”

  • Fashola urges more young people in decision making position

    Fashola urges more young people in decision making position

    Lagos State Governor  Babatunde Fashola SAN, has  flagged off the 2014 Countdown at the popular Lagos Bar Beach in Victoria Island advocating more participation of young people in leadership and decision-making as a means to fast track the development of the country.

    Addressing the quality crowd comprising of representatives of sponsors, artistes and residents that witnessed the colourful yearly event, Governor Fashola said the sustenance and continued improvement in the standard of the ceremony by the Lagos State Signage and Advertising Agency (LASAA), an outfit run by young people, has shown what young people could do when given the chance and with the right government in place.

    The governor said LASAA has become an example of what the Nigerian young people were capable of achieving when given the chance to lead, adding that governments at all levels in the country should challenge them with policies and programmes that are capable of bringing the best out of them.

    “LASAA is, perhaps, one of the many outfits that we have in Lagos now led and run by young people. It is an example of what is possible. If the right governments and the right people allow Nigerian young people to lead, policies and programmes that challenge young people will bring out the best in them”, he said.

    Noting that the nation is too blessed with resourceful and talented young people to be dealing with the challenges that she is currently facing, Governor Fashola said the state has shown, through many of its agencies, that things could be fixed if young people  are entrusted to take decisions.

    He said:“Lagos has shown through LASAA, through Lagos State Internal Revenue Service (LIRS), through its Electricity Board and through Public Works Corporation, among others, that things can be fixed if we entrust young people to take decisions. They know what they are doing with the right supports and with the right answers”.

    Going down memory lane on how the countdown began, Governor Fashola recalled that it commenced sometimes between 2004 and 2005 at a small space close to the road which was the only place left of the Beach by Sea erosion, adding that it took the courage of his predecessor, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to say the erosion must be  stopped.

    “We had lost the road, all of the properties on this shore line had disappeared and all that the Federal Government of Nigeria was doing was pumping sand here every two years only for it to be washed away. It was that courage thatgave birth to   the partnership with South Energy and today not only that we reclaimed the road, businesses are back”, the Governor said.

    He expressed joy that more businesses are now emerging at the small and micro levels where, according to him, “people can come here and say to themselves when they leave home, those three important words, “I am going to work”.

    Governor Fashola, who emphasised the importance of job creation added, “But what did we do with that dream; we built on it, we developed it and after we had saved the beach, the next challenge was how to turn nature’s assets, an Atlantic coastline, into an opportunity for tourism, for economic development and for daily prosperity”.

    “The countdown started as a last few days event, it has become a last one month event. But for me, the work is not finished. What we have done here for the last month of the year must now happen every month and from there on to every day; that is when the story will be complete”, he said.

    According to him, the dream was to turn the Beach into a place where there would be commerce, sports, cycling, buying and selling and where the whole world would fly into the country and into the state and say “we are going to the Lagos Bar Beach waterfront the way they go to many other waterfronts across the world; that is the dream”.

    Governor Fashola, however, told his audience, “But it would not happen by accidents, it will happen only if people who know howto continue to maintain and run the affairs of Lagos State. This has not happened by accident, it has happened because a government and a party that  know what they are doing to  run the affairs of Lagos”.

    To sustain the tradition of Excellence, therefore, the APC Candidate remains the best bet for Lagosians, the Governor said adding, “The time to make our choices come upon us in the next few weeks”.

  • 2014 end of year party: Fashola urges children to work hard in their studies

    2014 end of year party: Fashola urges children to work hard in their studies

    Lagos State Governor  Babatunde Fashola, SAN and his wife, Dame Emmanuella Abimbola Fashola on Tuesday hosted the 2014 Lagos State Annual Children’s Party with the Governor urging the children to continue to work hard in their studies and obey their parents.

    The Governor, who spoke during the party which was held at the Open field of the Lagos House, Ikeja added that by studying hard, the students can achieve all the desired greatness in life.

    He added that the children should learn to be safe during the holiday periods by refraining from talking to strangers or collecting items from them in addition to ensuring that they report such strange faces to their parents.

    He said the children should also be appreciative of the efforts of the teachers who have been instrumental to the successes they have recorded in their academic pursuits and should also do the same to their parents whose taxes has ensured the sustenance of the children’s party.

    “It is because of those taxes that your Daddy and Mummy pay that has ensured that you can also go to School. So when you grow up and become Mummy and Daddy, are you going to pay your own taxes too?”, he sought to know.

    He prayed that next year everyone would be alive to witness another children’s party celebration but that by then, he would no more be the Governor of the State just as his wife would no longer be the First Lady of Lagos State.

  • Fashola, Amaechi seek peaceful co-existence

    Fashola, Amaechi seek peaceful co-existence

    Governors Babatunde Fashola (Lagos State) and Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers State) have enjoined Nigerians to embrace the virtues of peaceful coexistence and refrain from fanning embers of disunity.

    Fashola, in his Christmas goodwill message, maintained that as the next year’s general elections approach, it was only through peaceful co-existence that Nigeria could make the desired progress.

    “I urge you to continue in this vein, for it is only by living in peaceful and harmonious co-existence, by respecting each other’s right to live freely and peacefully and by being our brothers’ keepers that we are truly celebrating the essence of Christmas”, he reiterated

    Appealing for vigilance from the people during the 2015 elections, he said the people must be assertive in ensuring that irrespective of the frustrations that they might be going through, they must exercise their civic rights and vote rightly.

    He said the security challenges, which the country is facing, should not be used as an avenue to create division along ethnic and religious lines by some politicians who are blanketly engaging in name-calling of political opponents.

    The governor said Nigeria has always been a heterogeneous nation and that the people should resist any attempt by any leader to highlight such ethnic differences to further their selfish ends.

    He also urged the people to be safety and security conscious, especially during the festive period by not indulging in drinking and driving and reporting all suspicious activities around them to security agencies by using the Toll free lines 767 and 112.

    Amaechi, who is the chairman of Nigeria Governors’ Forum, called on Christians to imbibe the spirit of oneness and political tolerance.

    In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary David Iyofor, the governor enjoined Christian faithful to be fervent in praying for Nigeria to achieve the desired change the country yearning for next year.