President Bola Tinubu has called on Nigerians to preserve the country’s unity, stressing that political, religious and ethnic differences must not be allowed to undermine the nation’s cohesion.
Tinubu, who was represented by the Deputy President of the Senate, Barau Jibrin, made the call on Tuesday at an event in Abuja, where he emphasised dialogue as a key instrument for resolving disagreements and sustaining peaceful coexistence.
The President also reaffirmed the commitment of his administration to addressing insecurity and creating an environment conducive to peace across the country.
He said:
“Not only that, the government is determined to make sure that we remain united as a country, despite our differences. Whatever the differences may be, we should talk and remain in this country, and allow this country to remain a united nation, a united country.”
Yilwatda Warns Against Religious, Ethnic Politics
Also speaking at the event, National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, cautioned politicians against exploiting religion and ethnicity as tools for securing political advantage.
Yilwatda maintained that Nigeria’s diverse religious and ethnic composition should be a source of strength rather than a trigger for conflict.
Drawing from his personal experience as a displaced person during the Bauchi crisis, the APC chairman said violence ultimately affects people irrespective of their religious identity.
He said:
“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,”
According to Yilwatda, differences in religious beliefs do not erase the shared aspirations and challenges of Nigerians.
He said:
“We may worship differently. Or we may suffer together. We dream together. We can build together. And ultimately, we can rise and fall together,”
The APC chairman further urged political leaders to exercise restraint and refrain from weaponising religious or ethnic sentiments for electoral gains.
He warned that temporary political victories could come at the expense of the country’s long-term stability and unity.
Yilwatda said:
“No political victory is worth the permanent damage inflicted on our nation, and we’ve been seeing it every day,”
The remarks come amid growing national conversations around insecurity, political divisions and the need for stronger social cohesion as Nigeria approaches the 2027 general elections.
Both Tinubu and Yilwatda’s interventions centred on dialogue, national unity and responsible political leadership as essential measures for preventing divisions from escalating into wider conflict.
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