President Muhammadu Buhari has said that Nigerians are better and stronger together despite the plurality in culture, language and religion in Africa’s most populous country.
President Buhari disclosed this while speaking virtually at the State House in Abuja during a Colloquium held in Kano State to mark the 69th birthday anniversary of former Lagos Governor, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
His statement reads, “Despite occasional inter-ethnic tensions in our national history, it seems to me that we have all agreed on one point that notwithstanding our diversity or ethnicity, culture, language and religion, Nigerians are better together, even stronger together.
“Asiwaju (Tinubu) himself is a known advocate of unity and cohesion in Nigeria. This has been a constant factor in his outstanding political career from the time his served in the short-lived senate in the third republic to his involvement in the struggle for the actualisation of the June 12 mandate of the late Chief MKO Abiola to his much acclaimed years of service as the governor of Lagos State from 1999 to 2007.”
“I can also relate personally to the ideals of One Nigeria. As a military officer, I have served with great comrades from all the nooks and crannies of our country.
“In the course of my career, I have also been opportuned to serve in all parts of Nigeria seeing firsthand the enticing possibilities of a strong, united nation.
“More importantly, I fought for the unity of Nigeria during the civil war – 1967 to 1970 and I saw firsthand the unspeakable horrors of war, not just from fellow soldiers from both sides but from the civilians, innocent children, women and the elderly left behind.
“As we all know the peace-keeping recovery and reconstruction that followed could also not have succeeded under an atmosphere of inter-ethnic animosity. We must count our blessings in Nigeria and see in them the crucial factors of peace and unity.”
In a similar vein, Nigeria’s Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo also said as one of the national leaders of the All Progressives Congress, Tinubu has been instrumental in raising leaders in the country in the last few years.
Going further, the Vice-President said the APC chieftain believed that economic, social and cultural development depend on enabling a caucus of ideas to drive government’s decision making process.
“Also central to his leadership style is the fact that he is able to lead a vast array of persons with diverse views and is completely comfortable in engaging in diverse ideas ranging from political to religious debates,” Osinbajo added.
