By Faith Anisiobi, The Sight News
ABUJA— The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has urged Nigerians to put aside religious, ethnic and political differences and unite against insecurity and other challenges confronting the country.
Idris made the call on Tuesday in Abuja while speaking on the sidelines of an international conference on “Diversity and Social Peace: A Partnership for a Promising Future,” organized by the Jama’atu Izalatil Bid’ah Wa Iqamatus Sunnah (JIBWIS) in partnership with the Muslim World League.
The minister said Nigeria needed unity now more than ever, stressing that the country’s security, stability and prosperity depended on citizens working together across religious, ethnic and political divides.
“All of us need to come together, think as Nigerians, think as human beings, and work together, irrespective of our differences, so that we can act as one,” Idris said.
He warned that allowing religious and ethnic differences to influence the fight against insecurity would worsen the situation, urging Nigerians to reject violence, intolerance and attempts to exploit the country’s diversity for divisive purposes.
“There is no time for differences. If, in our fight against insecurity, we allow religious differences, it will only exacerbate the problem. The need for us to come together as one people is important,” he said.
Idris clarified that the conference was not organised by the Federal Government, but said the government welcomed initiatives aimed at promoting interfaith dialogue, peaceful coexistence and national cohesion.
“If we want to advance and march towards prosperity, all of us must think and act together and come together as one people,” he stated.
The minister also highlighted Nigeria’s strategic importance to Africa and the wider world, noting that peace and stability in the country would have broader implications for the continent.
“Nigeria is a very important country. It is a country of over 230 million people. Peace and tranquillity here mean peace and tranquillity everywhere in Africa and, indeed, the world,” Idris said.
Representing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the conference, the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau I. Jibrin, said the President remained committed to sustainable security, national unity and international cooperation.
Jibrin said Nigeria would continue to work with international partners to promote peace and stability.
The Secretary-General of the Muslim World League and Chairman of the Organization of Muslim Scholars, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa, urged Nigerians to protect their shared humanity and reject attempts to weaponise religion, ethnicity or poverty to divide the country.
The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III, called for sustained dialogue, honesty and stronger implementation of solutions to Nigeria’s challenges, while urging Nigerians to rebuild trust and strengthen interreligious cooperation.
Also speaking, the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, urged Nigerians to regard the country’s diversity as a source of strength rather than division.
Yilwatda noted that although Nigerians might practise different religions, they shared common aspirations and faced many of the same challenges.
The National Chairman of JIBWIS, Sheikh Abdullahi Bala Lau, called for stronger collaboration among government, religious organizations and communities to tackle insecurity.
Lau also advocated increased investment in education and skills development to reduce the vulnerability of young people to radicalization and criminal recruitment.
The conference was attended by the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau I. Jibrin, who represented President Tinubu; Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani; Jigawa State Governor, Malam Umar Namadi; Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum; and Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha.
Also present were the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III; APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda; Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa; JIBWIS National Chairman, Sheikh Abdullahi Bala Lau; the President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), as well as senior government officials, religious and traditional leaders, members of the diplomatic corps and civil society representatives.
