Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, has said the fact that the country is plagued with many challenges, does not mean it should be broken into pieces.
Osinbajo who made the statement through his spokesman, Mr Laolu Akande, on Wednesday when he hosted a delegation from Arewa Concerned People for National Unity and Religious Tolerance at the Presidential Villa, said unity and tolerance are key elements in promoting national security, economic success and greatness.
The vice president said that some of the greatest nations in the world were multi-racial, multi-ethnic, and multi-religious, and therefore believes Nigeria must work despite its many challenges.
“There is no great nation anywhere that has not had this sort of challenge, especially where you have a multi-racial, multi-religious setup.
“And the greatest nations in the world are multi-racial, multi-religious, and multi-ethnic.
“As a matter of fact, some of these things are as important as the economy and security.
“A united people, people who see themselves as one, are more likely to be economically successful, more likely to be able to secure themselves and secure their borders, and more likely to work together for the goodness and greatness of their people.
“It is the duty of the leadership, not just political leadership, but also the leadership of social groups and organisations such as yours, to ensure that we are focused on these issues of unity and tolerance.”
According to Osinbajo, religious tolerance and unity is a matter that goes beyond mere advocacy.
He said he believed strongly that the greatness of nations, wherever the nations might be, had always been on account of leaders who thought it fit to build those nations on the basis of unity and tolerance.
“I think that it is such an important issue that we cannot afford to discount it.
“There is a need for us to pay more time and attention to these issues in whatever way we can because every once in a while, we see some threats to the unity of our country.
“And we must not allow it to happen at all, we must continue not just in the advocacy, but in action that will bring about unity and religious tolerance,” he said.
Credit: PressExpress