The Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola (SAN), alongside his wife, Dame Emmanuella Abimbola Fashola, on Wednesday hosted the 2014 State Christmas Carol Service, charging all residents to ensure that all the positives of Christmas do not end with the period.
The governor, who spoke while delivering his goodwill message at the service held at the Lagos House, Marina, added that everyone must consciously act to keep the generousity, the bonding, restraint, love and happiness that make Christmas a special season into the people’s daily lives so that every day of their lives after Christmas would be a special day.
He said: “It is possible because it does not happen by accident and because we make Christmas happen by giving, by loving and by sharing and smiling.
“If we did it every day, you can just imagine what the world would be like if every day was Christmas.”
Governor Fashola thanked every resident for their support, forbearance, tolerance and accommodation, adding that their support had been monumental.
He expressed the hope that they would give a bigger version to Akinwunmi Ambode, the governorship candidate of the party to which he belongs, the All Progressives Congress, as his successor in office.
He said: “When you are in the driving seat of a state and city that never sleeps, you must understand that you must continue to express gratitude to all of those who make it work.
“And so it is with a very deep sense of gratitude that I say to all of you that thank you.
“You will perhaps be unable to quantify how valuable your support has been but I know that without your support, the journey would have been much more difficult.
“Like all good things that have a beginning, it must surely have an end.
“We are winding down now and as far as Christmas carols come, this would be the last one that I would address as the governor.”
Fashola reiterated that there is a lot of work to be done as the state has defied the odds and exploded many myths because all of the things that some people said could not happen have been made possible by the people.
Also speaking, the First Lady, Dame Emmanuella Abimbola Fashola, expressed the gratitude of the first family to the residents of the state for the opportunity given to her husband to serve the state and wished all residents a peaceful and fun filled Christmas celebrations.
The service featured songs rendition by different choirs, bible passages and performance by guest artistes and was witnessed by dignitaries that included the Deputy Governor, Hon. Adejoke Orelope- defulire; the Head of Service, Oluseyi Williams; Commissioners for Commerce and Industry, Sola Oworu; and Establishments, Training and Pensions, Florence Oguntuashe.