President Bola Tinubu has urged Nigerians to preserve the unity of the country despite their differences, stressing that dialogue remains essential to keeping Nigeria united.
Tinubu, represented by Deputy President of the Senate Barau Jibrin, made the call on Tuesday at an 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 and promoting peace through collaboration with other countries.
He said Nigerians must continue to engage in dialogue and work towards preserving the country’s unity despite religious, ethnic and other differences.
“Not only that, the government is determined to make sure that we remain united as a country, despite our differences,” Tinubu said.
He described the conference as timely, given the security challenges confronting countries around the world, and expressed optimism that its deliberations would contribute to efforts to achieve sustainable peace at the regional, continental and global levels.
Tinubu also commended the Muslim World League for partnering JIBWIS and selecting Nigeria as the first country to host the conference.
Yilwatda warns against weaponising religion, ethnicity
The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Prof Nentawe Yilwatda, warned political leaders against exploiting religious and ethnic differences for political advantage.
Yilwatda said such practices could deepen divisions and cause lasting damage to the country, urging leaders to regard Nigeria’s diversity as a source of strength rather than conflict.
Reflecting on his experience as a displaced person during the Bauchi crisis, he said violence did not discriminate between Christians and Muslims, as people on all sides suffered its consequences.
“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 internally displaced persons’ camp taught him that Nigerians could practise different faiths while sharing the same fears, aspirations and national destiny.
He urged politicians to resist attempts to weaponise religion and ethnicity, warning that short-term political gains could lead to permanent damage to the country.
The APC chairman also called on religious leaders to use their influence to promote peace, reconciliation and understanding rather than hatred and division.
Sultan calls for implementation of solutions
The Sultan of Sokoto, who also spoke at the conference, said Nigeria did not lack solutions to its challenges but needed stronger commitment to implementing agreed measures.
“We don’t lack solutions to our problems. What we lack is implementation — how to implement whatever we agree to do,” he said.
He also appealed to Christians and Muslims to avoid insulting one another, saying mutual respect was necessary for peaceful coexistence.
“Christians should stop insulting Muslims. Muslims should stop insulting Christians, and that’s how we live in peace,” the Sultan said.
Muslim World League backs peace initiative
The conference was attended by the Secretary-General of the Muslim World League, Sheikh Mohammad Al-Issa, who was in Nigeria to witness the signing of the Abuja Declaration.
The declaration seeks to establish a new alliance between Muslim and Christian leaders and create a peace-building mechanism to help Nigeria and other West African countries prevent religious tensions from escalating into violence.
Al-Issa is a prominent advocate of moderate Islam and interfaith engagement and has been involved in international initiatives promoting dialogue between religious communities.
The conference was also attended by federal ministers, state governors, religious leaders, traditional rulers and other dignitaries.
