L-R: Diocesan Bishop of Lagos, Anglican Communion, The Rt. Revd. Dr. Humphrey B. Olumakaiye; his wife, Prof. Motunrayo Olumakaiye; Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu and his wife/First Lady of the state, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, during the Christmas service held at the Cathedral Church of Christ, Marina, Lagos
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has called on Lagosians to apply modesty as they celebrate Christmas.
Sanwo-Olu who gave this charge while speaking to newsmen during Christmas Service at the Cathedral Church of Christ, Marina Lagos also disclosed that he signed pardon for convicted prisoners in the state.
Said he: “I want to charge Lagosians that in this season of Christmas, let us do things with moderation, let us understand that even while we are doing our celebration, we do it with modesty; let us do it with a lot of decorum and let us understand that it is a period to remain peaceful to be law-abiding and continue to remain as an example for other parts of the country”.
While thanking God for sparing the lives of Lagosians, the governor also stated that the season of Christmas was a period of reflection for all.
Stated Sanwo-Olu: “We thank the almighty God for sparing our lives, for making today a reality in our individual lives. We thank God for protecting our country and for also protecting our state, even in spite of all the challenges that we have; that in His infinite mercy he has kept us as a state, and as a people. In the same spirit of Christmas, it is a season of giving; it is a season of blessing.
“Itis also a season of reflection; so as a nation, as a state, I think it is also appropriate for us to continue to count our blessings, to continue to reflect on those things that have happened to us in the course of the year and how we can improve and be better citizens”.
He said that since Christmas is a time of giving back, he has signed relief for some convicts in various prisons, as well as reach out to lots of the less privileged in the state.
“It is also a season of giving back. So I have also signed a small relief for some convicts that we have in the various prisons, people that have been convicted. Some on death sentences, we have committed them to life sentences. And some that we realised that were convicted for minor offences, and we asked that they be given pardon. We will also use this season to reach out to a lot of the less privileged; I will also be going out, by ensuring that we all leave in a safe and very conducive environment.”
On what Lagos State is doing to support the police he said: “You know we always support the police, less than a week ago, we opened the biggest Area Command in the nation, Area L. If you go there you will realize there is no area command that is of that status before, and we just commissioned and handed it over to the men of Lagos Police Command.”
He also added that Lagos state government regularly supports the police with vehicles and other needs that they require,
Said he: “We are not living it to the police, we are supporting the entire security formation in Lagos for them to be able to discharge their duty well, and we are also supporting our LASTMA officers so that they have all of the implements they require to do the work”.
He also tasked Lagos residents to be law-abiding during the festive season.
Admonished he: “We know that we are in the festive season, we are using the gentlemen of the press to also communicate and to tell all our people that all of us should be law-abiding, we should live peacefully, and in a manner that we are not disobeying the rules and regulation of our environment”.
