Encomium
- “Let’s emphasize our sameness instead of our differences to our children”, Governor appeals to parents, others
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN), Tuesday defied the early morning rain to commemorate this year’s Children’s Day with the “greater tomorrow” with an assurance to the children that Government would always do everything possible to ensure their safety both in and out of school.
The State Governor also used the opportunity to introduce “the Spirit of Lagos”, an ethical revival concept that is aimed at restoring dignity and value into the system which he said would take Lagos higher.
Addressing hundreds of pupils and students from a toned down format of schools in the State who converged at the Police College grounds, Ikeja, for the traditional march past, Fashola told them not to be afraid because his administration was doing everything to forestall all elements of fear from the State.
He told the children, who were all dressed in red T-shirts with “Bring Back Our Friends” embossed on them, “Let me say to you that you must never be afraid because we will do everything we can to make sure that you are free from fear and I assure you that all will be well”.
Noting that the children came to the event in red T-shirts, instead of their traditional uniforms in solidarity with the over 200 girls abducted last month from a secondary school at Chibok in Borno State by Boko Haram insurgents, the Governor commended their spirit of sobriety and their decision not to celebrate while others are in despair.
The Governor recalled that May 27 of every year is a day that has been set aside for celebrating the children and for the adults rededicating themselves to the cause of the pursuit of the children’s happiness and their total wellbeing adding, however, that the children have chosen to march in solidarity with their abducted colleagues.
Pointing out that the day was also significant for Lagos as it also marks her birthday having been created on May 27, 1967, the Governor, however, declared, “But I see that our children have come out, not in their traditional uniforms and not in their very large numbers; and I see that they have also come out with a sense of sobriety and their message to me is clear because it is embossed very boldly in the red cloth that they wear”.
To the children, the Governor said, “It tells us that there is a lot of work to do in this country. But I am emboldened by your message; I am emboldened by your decision not to celebrate if others are in despair. This is the spirit of Lagos and I am very proud of all of you”.
“I know that in wearing these T- shirt and asking that these girls should be brought back home, our daughters, our sisters and our friends , on its own alone will not bring back the children. But it sends a very strong message that we will stand together as a people in order show solidarity with those who are in pain and who are in despair and that is the strong message of our common bond of humanity”, he said.
According to the Governor, “It also sends a strong message that we will stand together for our country. Indeed, it sends a stronger message that we stand in solidarity behind our security forces as they undertake this most defining assignment to bring back our children, our daughters and our friends”.
He appealed to parents, guardians, teachers and all those who relate with them to always emphasize the things that unite Nigerians as a people saying that in their youthfulness and innocence, the children would rather interrelate and co-habit as one people.
The Governor, who expressed the belief that by standing together the children had demonstrated “a most defining moment for our nation”, further declared, “By standing in uniform, in red, you have emphasized our commonality and moved away from our differences”.
Urging parents, guardians, uncles, teachers and friends to understand “that these children do not emphasize our differences”, the Governor reiterated, “It is us who expose them to our differences. Today I appeal very passionately that we should focus more on discussing with our children how we are the same instead of how we are different”.
Again the Governor told the children, “The minimum that you deserve is not just a very good education. It is protection and safety whether you are at home, whether you on our streets or whether you are in your schools. Government will continue to discharge that responsibility with every skill and with every resource that it has”.
Thanking all individuals and corporate bodies that have supported his administration in ensuring peace and safety in the State and across the nation, the Governor told the children, “Today, the spirit that you have shown, the spirit of oneness, the spirit of compassion, the spirit of unity, the spirit of sacrifice are the spirits that constitute the Spirit of Lagos where we are our brothers’ keepers and they should be the spirit of our country”.
“As we commemorate this day, let me say to you that we will not give up our way of life for anything. But we will be adaptive as we have adapted today in order to overcome difficulty”, the Governor said.
In an interactive session with the children after his address, Governor Fashola expressed pride that the children at their age could be aware of what is happening around them, a situation he described as very encouraging pointing out that it was not so with the older generation.
Responding to a question by one of the children on whether or not the National Conference going on now in Abuja would discuss the issue of the abducted girls by Boko Haram insurgents, the Governor, who said the Conference has so many things on its agenda, however, expressed the hope that Nigerians would see the need for multi-level police so that the schools and communities would be adequately protected.
To another question about how safe school children are in the State, the Governor responded, “You should not be afraid to go to school. We are doing everything we can to ensure your safety” adding, however, that the children must also be vigilant and not take things from strangers or allow them to take them away from school.
“You must be vigilant. Do not take things from total strangers and do not go out of the school without the knowledge of your teacher. Do not let any strange person not authorized by your parents take you from school and be sure your teachers know if anybody comes to tell you that your parents have authorized him or her to take you home”, the Governor also advised.
On what are the real demands of the Boko Haram insurgents, Governor Fashola, who confessed that he had no details, however, declared, “What I do know is that whatever the people want they cannot get it from the children but from adults. They should release the children and discuss with the adults”.
One of the highlights of the event was the symbolic registration of pupils for the next school year. The Governor symbolically registered little Miss Lorene Yomife and Master Bethel Gbenga into the Primary 1 Class.
Also present at the occasion were the Deputy Governor, Hon. (Mrs.) Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Olayinka Oladunjoye, Special Adviser on Education, Otunba Fatai Olukoga, among other members of the State Executive Council, teachers and top Education stakeholders as well as government officials.
SIGNED: HAKEEM BELLO
SPECIAL ADVISER ON MEDIA TO H.E
