President warns against division as APC Chairman Yilwatda cautions politicians against weaponising religion and ethnicity.
President Bola Tinubu has urged Nigerians to preserve the unity of the country despite their differences, stressing that dialogue remains essential to sustaining Nigeria as one nation.
President Tinubu, represented by the Deputy President of the Senate, Barau Jibrin, made the call on Tuesday at the International Conference on Security and National Unity organised by Jama’atu Izalatil Bid’ah Wa Iqamatus Sunnah (JIBWIS) in collaboration with the Muslim World League.
The President said his administration remained committed to tackling Nigeria’s security challenges, strengthening national unity and working with other countries to promote peace.
He urged Nigerians to resolve their differences through dialogue rather than allowing disagreements to threaten the country’s unity.
“Not only that, the government is determined to make sure that we remain united as a country, despite our differences, that we should talk and remain in this country, and allow this country to remain as a united nation,” Tinubu said.
He described the conference as timely, given the security challenges confronting Nigeria and other parts of the world, saying its deliberations could contribute to efforts towards achieving sustainable regional, continental and global peace.
Tinubu also commended the Muslim World League for partnering with JIBWIS and choosing Nigeria as the first country to host the international conference.
In his remarks, the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, warned political leaders against exploiting religion and ethnicity for political gains.
Yilwatda said Nigeria’s diversity should be treated as a source of strength rather than a tool for division, stressing that religious and ethnic differences should not undermine the shared interests of citizens.
Reflecting on his experience as an internally displaced person during the Bauchi crisis, the APC chairman said violence affected people regardless of their religion.
“When violence comes, it does not ask whether you are a Christian or a Muslim before it destroys either your home, or your humanity, or your dignity,” he said.
Yilwatda said his experience in an IDP camp taught him that Nigerians might worship differently but share similar fears, aspirations and a common destiny.
“We may worship differently, or we may suffer together. We dream together, we can build together, and ultimately, we can rise and fall together,” he added.
He urged politicians to resist the temptation to weaponise religion and ethnicity, warning that temporary political gains could cause lasting damage to the country.
Yilwatda also called on religious leaders to use their influence to promote peace, reconciliation and responsible citizenship rather than hatred and division.
“You as religious leaders, let our mosques and our churches become centres of peace, of reconciliation and responsible citizenship,” he said.