President Bola Tinubu has urged Nigerians to embrace peace and unity, emphasizing that “hate is never an option.”
The President made this known on Saturday in Jos, Plateau State, during the burial ceremony of Nana Lydia Yilwatda, the mother of the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman, Professor Nantawe Yilwatda.
Addressing the clergy and mourners, Tinubu called on religious leaders to champion peace and foster national harmony.
“Hate is never an option for us. I was born into Islam and have remained a Muslim, while my wife is a pastor. She prays for me, and there has never been any conflict between us. I have never tried to persuade her to convert,” Tinubu said.
“This must be an opportunity to promote the unity needed. To the clergy, thank you for the promotion of peace. Hate is not an option. We must love one another. Nobody determines what God has ordained. We are praying to the same God. We are answerable to him.”
During a separate meeting with Christian leaders at the COCIN Church Headquarters in Jos, the President reaffirmed his commitment to uniting Nigeria and ensuring fairness among all religions.
“I have a mission to unite this country, ensure its prosperity, and we are making progress,” he stated.
Highlighting his personal example of religious tolerance, Tinubu noted that despite his Muslim background, his wife is a Christian pastor.
“In our family, we have a strong Muslim background, and I married a Christian, a pastor for that matter, and I have never forced her to change her religion,” the President said.
He also reiterated his administration’s commitment to tackling insecurity, particularly terrorism and banditry. “We are defeating bandits, and we will defeat them. We will deal with them and combat the farmers-herders clashes,” Tinubu affirmed.
While paying tribute to the late Nana Lydia Yilwatda, Tinubu described her as a devoted mother and humanitarian. “Today, I am grateful that I am alive and to God be the glory to be the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and to come here to bid farewell to the mother of the community, and a humanitarian,” he said.
The APC National Chairman, Professor Nantawe Yilwatda, described his mother as a hardworking woman who lived with health challenges for 47 years but remained devoted to her family and humanitarian causes. He also thanked President Tinubu for his leadership and support.
Governor Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau State appreciated the President for attending the burial despite his tight schedule.
The event was attended by several dignitaries, including Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum AbdulRazaq Abdulrahman, National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, Chief of Staff to the President Femi Gbajabiamila, Secretary to the Government of the Federation George Akume, ministers, former governors, and members of the APC National Working Committee.
What you should know
President Bola Tinubu used the occasion of the burial of APC Chairman Professor Nantawe Yilwatda’s mother to advocate peace, religious tolerance, and unity among Nigerians.
Drawing from his personal life, he emphasized the harmony in his interfaith marriage and called on religious leaders to reject hate and promote love across communities.
