National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, has urged Christians and Muslims across Nigeria to reject violence and work together to preserve peace as the country moves towards the 2027 general elections.
Yilwatda said violence does not discriminate on the basis of religion and would ultimately affect Nigerians regardless of their faith, warning that religious differences should not become a source of division or conflict.
The APC chairman spoke at the Muslim World League (JIBWIS) International Security Conference, which focused on the theme, “Advancing Peaceful Coexistence.”
Drawing from his personal experience, Yilwatda recalled growing up in an environment where religious relationships cut across faith lines, noting that his father’s best friend was a Muslim Chief Imam.
He said:
“I feel privileged to be invited to this conference that speaks directly to the issues concerning our nation, our peace, unity, and the future of our nation. For every Nigerian, diversity is not a distant concept; it’s what we experience every day, positively or negatively.
“We are a nation of different faiths. I’m a Christian, and a number of you here are Muslims. I have brothers and relations who are Muslims, and we have to live together.
“Before us is whether Christians and Muslims can stay together. The greater question is: What kind of nation are we building by the way we live our lives?
“When violence comes, it doesn’t ask whether you are Christian or Muslim before it destroys either your home, humanity, or dignity.
“We may worship differently, but we suffer together, we can build together, and ultimately, we can rise and fall together. The foolishness that creates division does not ultimately spare the people.”
Yilwatda’s remarks come as political activities gradually intensify ahead of the 2027 elections, with concerns over communal and political tensions remaining a major issue in discussions about Nigeria’s security and democratic future.
He stressed that Nigeria’s religious diversity should be viewed as a basis for peaceful coexistence rather than a trigger for confrontation, urging citizens to recognise their shared interests and responsibilities as Nigerians.
The APC chairman’s message at the security conference centred on the need for Nigerians to protect national unity and avoid actions that could deepen divisions or expose communities to violence.
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