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Fashola Calls On FG, ASUU To Go Back To Negotiating Table
• “Be tolerant and understanding”, he tells Lagosian at Ramadan

Aug 30, 2009 - Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN), Sunday called on the Federal Government and the striking Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to go back to the negotiating table in order to sort out their differences and save the nation’s Education System.

Governor Fashola, who spoke during an interview with newsmen after a Ramadan Lecture organized by the Lagos State branch of the Ansar-Ud-Deen Society of Nigeria, enjoined the two parties to move quickly to return Education in the country to its pride of place.

“It is safe to believe that the Federal Government and ASUU are committed to returning Education to its pride of place, especially, when one realizes that Education is the major investment we can give to any nation to build human capital”, the Governor said adding that if there is any disagreements between the two parties, it could only be how to get to the same goal.

“I think both parties should go back to the negotiating table to harmonize their views so that there can be useful compromises that can be achieved to start a journey to the final resolution of the difference”, Governor Fashola said adding, “I don’t think there is any magic wand to solving all the problems today”.

According to the Governor, “I believe that if there is a commitment, ASUU and the Federal Government can start a clear journey to the final resolution of their differences”.

The Governor enjoined Lagosians to continue to be tolerant and understanding with more restraint in their interaction with one another pointing out that the things that join us as a nation are more than the things that divide us as a people.

“Our humanity, more than anything, shows how interrelated we are”, the Governor said pointing out that we are first humans before being Christians and Muslims.

Governor Fashola declared, “Let us look at our own humanity to understand that we are more the same than we are different. The emphasis on our differences are emphasis of convenience. At times, they are emphasis that we do not need”.

Posing questions to show the interdependences among humanity irrespective of faith ant tongue, Governor Fashola reiterated, “We are not different and when we look at how cross culturally we have married ourselves over the years, you may discover that you have, probably, married a Muslim from a family that has deep Christian roots”, adding that there can be no clear division among Nigerians any more.

Congratulating the Muslim brothers and sisters in the State for living to witness yet another Ramadan, Governor Fashola prayed that all the rewards and blessings that accompany fasting in this Holy month be theirs.

In his lecture titled “Path to Paradise”, Alhaji Sheik Abdur Rahman Ahmad, said the Path to Paradise is not just one route pointing out that many people will make heaven based on the good works they have done while others will make it because of the quality of justice they have delivered.

According to him, the shortest way to make hell is through authority pointing out that this is because being in position of authority or leadership exposes the leader to being easily unjust.

In his goodwill message at the occasion, the National President of Ansar-Ud-Deen Society of Nigeria, Alhaji Bisiriyu Onisarutu, admonished the Federal Government to heed the request of ASUU as the strike is having a great impact on the lives of Nigerian children.

He noted that most of the students now roam the streets adding that the idleness has exposed most of them to the life of crime and other social ills to the detriment of the society at large.

Also in his goodwill message, Ahaji Afeez Timehin, advised members of the Society to imbibe the essence of the various lectures being delivered during the Ramadan and put them into use in their day-to-day lives.

On the title of the Lecture, “Path To Paradise” Alhaji Timehin said there is no other way to Paradise than doing good at all times and leading by example adding “We should also be steadfast in what we believe and we must also direct our children to tread the path”.

Also present at the lecture were, the Speaker Lagos State House of Assembly, Right Hon. Adeyemi Ikuforiji, Commissioner for Home Affairs and Culture, Alhaji Tunde Balogun, National/International President of Ansar-Ud-Deen Alhaji Bisiriyu Onisarotu, among other eminent Muslim dignitaries.