Nigeria’s Leaders Must Provide Pathway To Unity, Says Osinbajo

Acting President Yemi Osinbajo has underscored the need for Nigerian leaders to give the younger generation the vision on a pathway to unity in diversity.

Delivering the keynote address at an event to examine Nigeria’s development 50 years after the civil war, Prof. Osinbajo said Nigerians should think more of what unites them than what separates them.

He advised them against buying into the rhetoric that the breakup of the nation could solve the economic and social challenges being faced citizens.

“We must not permit our leaders the easy but dangerous rhetoric of blaming our social and economic conditions on our coming together. It is their duty, and I speak to myself, our duty, to give us a vision, a pathway to make our unity in diversity even more perfect,” Prof. Osinbajo said.

The Acting President also urged Nigerians to hold their leaders to account based on the ideals of the Constitution.

He said, “The promise of our Constitution, which we have sworn to uphold, is that we will ensure a secure and safe environment for our people to live and work in peace; that we would provide just and fair institutions that will not permit and encourage discrimination on the ground of race, gender, beliefs or other parochial considerations; that we will build a nation where no one is oppressed and where no one is left behind. These are the standards to which we must hold our leadership.”

Also at the event, former President Olusegun Obasanjo called for dialogue with any group that is planning to secede from the Nigerian nation.

He wondered why anybody would be working to jeopardise the unity of the country.

The former President also called on aggrieved groups in the country to raise their grievances in a manner that gives room for such grievances to be solved.

He said, “I believe that there is no substitute than for us holding Nigeria and massaging it as we massage love; there is not alternative. And I would say that we should even appeal if anybody says he wants to go. Not to say, ‘Go if you like’. Don’t go, there is enough cake for each and every one of us. If what you want is more of the cake, then ask for it in a way that is pleasant.”