Buhari: religion shouldn’t divide Nigerians

Religion should not divide Nigeria but be an instrument of unity; All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate Gen. Muhammadu Buhari said yesterday.

Gen. Buhari spoke at the yearly Lagos State Thanksgiving Service held at the Lagos House, Alausa, Ikeja.

The service, initiated during the tenure of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and sustained by Governor Babatunde Fashola, is held on the first Sunday in January.

The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye, presides.

  Yesterday’s session was also attended by Gen. Buhari’s running mate, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, who is a pastor of the RCCG and his wife Dolapo.

Fashola, Rivers State Governor Chibuike Amaechi, Lagos Deputy Governor Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, former Lagos State Governors Lateef Jakande and Gen. Mobolaji Johnson; APC governorship candidate Akinwunmi Ambode, APC National Chairman Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, state chairman Chief Henry Ajomale and National Publicity Secretary Lai Mohammed, among others, were at the service.

Gen. Buhari said Nigerians should have a right to go to God as they wish. He pledged his commitment to security for all Nigerians if voted into office on February 14.

He said: “I am honoured to participate in this annual thanksgiving service. This year’s thanksgiving service brings together all Nigerians from all states, Christians, Muslims and all religions in Lagos to thank the Almighty God.

“Religion must never be used as an excuse to divide us, oppress others or gain unfair advantage. In all my life, I have expressed the belief that all Nigerians must worship God according to their wish.

“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 sit together like this, rejoice and thank God together for the Almighty God to give us the country of our dream.”

Fashola condemned those who have predicted negatively concerning the state and the country.

Fashola said the state government deemed it fit to hold a thanksgiving service for sparing the lives of the people amid calamities rocking the country.

He said: “Today, 264 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 stampede 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.”

In the governor’s view 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 be taken 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 lockdown 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.”

Fashola 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.

“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,” Fashola said, adding:

“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, Muslims with different affiliations and traditionalists, because we are all grateful. That is the Spirit of Lagos.”

The governor solicited support for APC candidates, saying: “I hope you will choose wisely. I hope you will choose experience. I hope you will not experiment.”

Pastor Adeboye, who gave the exhortation, urged Nigerians not to relent in their prayers for the nation. He expressed optimism that 2015 will set Nigeria on a path to greatness.

Adeboye whose sermon was titled Jesus the Truth, enjoined Nigerians to live upright in order to sumont the challenges that may arise in the curse of the year.

He admonished Lagosians not to nurse any fear that Governor Babatunde Fashola has completed his two term tenure in the state, saying that God overseas the affairs of the state.