Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has said only unity and tolerance would promote Nigeria to economic success and greatness.
He also assured that the Federal Government would intensify efforts to build the country on the basis of unity and tolerance.
Osinbajo, who received a delegation from Arewa Concerned People for National Unity and Religious Tolerance in Abuja, said there is no great nation anywhere that has not had the sort of challenges facing Nigeria.
This was contained in a statement by Osinbajo’s spokesman, Mr. Laolu Akande.
He said, “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.”
The Vice President said the task before the government remained daunting, adding that the greatness of nations had always been on account of leaders who thought it fit to build the country 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.
This article was originally published on Nigeria News