•Tinubu, Mutfwang and Yilwatda during his mother’s burial ceremony in Jos yesterday
President Bola Tinubu has called for the promotion of peace in Nigeria, emphasising that there is no place for hate.
He made the remarks yesterday in Jos, Plateau State, during the burial ceremony of Nana Lydia Yilwatda, the mother of the Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Professor Nantawe Yilwatda.
Addressing the clergy and all at the event, Tinubu urged them to champion peace as a vital step toward fostering national unity, reports Channels TV.
“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.”
Mission to unite Nigeria
During his meeting with some Christian leaders at the Headquarters of COCIN Church in Jos, Plateau State, President Tinubu declared that he has a mission to unite Nigerians and assured Christian Communities in Northern Nigeria of his administration’s commitment to ensuring fairness among all religions in the country.
“I have a mission to unite this country, ensure its prosperity, and we are making progress,” the President was quoted to have said in a statement by his media aide, Bayo Onanuga.
Emphasising that hate is not an option for Nigerians, Tinubu highlighted his personal example of religious tolerance, noting that he is a Muslim while 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 affirmed his administration’s commitment to tackling insecurity in the country, especially in the fight against terrorism and banditry.
“We are defeating bandits, and we will defeat them. We will deal with them and combat the farmers-herders clashes,” the president said.
The president stated that his administration is revamping the economy for the benefit of all Nigerians.
He described the late Nana Lydia Yilwatda as a devoted mother during the funeral prayers.
“The history behind this church is rooted in faith with deep acceptance in the Lord and tradition. I have been to Jos before. When we were coming here, Governor Caleb Muftwang showed me one of the bungalows, the house of Ambassador Yahaya Kwande. During the SDP days, we met there to decide the fate of MKO Abiola.
“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”.
The chief mourner and APC National Chairman, Professor Nantawe Yilwatda, said his mother was a hard-working woman who lived on medication for 47 years.
“I am here to thank God for her life. My mother worked for twenty-four hours despite her health condition, supporting us and providing humanitarian assistance.
He thanked President Tinubu for his emergence as APC chairman and promised to keep the trust.
Also speaking at the event, Governor Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau State thanked President Tinubu for taking the time to attend the burial of the APC chairman’s mother in the state.
The funeral prayer was attended by the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, Chairman, Nigerian Governors Forum, AbdulRazaq Abdulrahman, APC Governors, NSA Malam Nuhu Ribadu, Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, Minister of Youth Development Ayodele Olawande, Minister of State (Petroleum) Heinekin Lokpobiri, Minister of Regional Development Abubakar Momoh, Special Duties Minister Zephaniah Jisalo,
Also present were the SGF, George Akume, and his predecessor, Boss Mustapha, as well as former governors Tanko Al-Makura of Nasarawa, Adamu Mu’azu of Bauchi, Fidelis Tapgun of Plateau, Yahaya Bello of Kogi, and Rochas Okorocha of Imo.
Members of the APC National Working Committee, Senators, members of the House of Representatives, former House Speaker Yakubu Dogara, and directors from the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs also attended the funeral.
