Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has asked all 2023 presidential aspirants to play politics without bitterness and eschew violence.
Osinbajo made this known on Saturday night during a Ramadan (Iftar) breaking of fast hosted by the First Lady, Aisha Buhari, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Speaking at the event, Osinbajo, who was represented at the dinner by a former governor of Edo, Prof. Oserheimen Osunbor, urged all the aspirants to work towards the country’s unity.
The vice president said the event offered Nigerians from different faiths and backgrounds the opportunity to reunite with one another to foster unity.
“It is an opportunity for aspirants from various political parties to meet one another and the lesson we should learn from here is to practise politics without bitterness as we move closer to election year.
“We should try to imbibe the spirit of oneness because at the end of the only one person is going to emerge winner of the Presidential election next year.
“So, it is not going to be do-or-die affairs, we should learn to practise politics without bitterness,” he said.
In his remarks, the national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and presidential hopeful, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, commended the first lady for inviting the aspirants to a presidential dinner.
He also appreciated the wife of the president for bringing the politicians from different political parties to share love and unity despite her busy schedule.
The former governor of Lagos State, however, prayed for the brotherliness, peace, unity and prosperity of Nigeria ahead of the 2023 general election.
On his part, Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State appreciated the first lady for bringing the presidential aspirants together to foster unity and nation cohesion.
“I must also thank you because this should be about our nation, about our patriotism, we should always place our nation above our individual interests.
“As we have aspired to lead this nation, I think that Nigerians should be able to evaluate, is not going to be promising, is going to be ticking the box.
“The opportunity given to us as leaders, what did we do with it, so, this kind of gathering is highly encouraged because it is going to douse a lot of tensions,” he said.
Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State and PDP presidential aspirant said the gathering was historic going by the calibre of people in attendance.
Mohammed promised to play the game with humility and mutual respect, adding that the interest of Nigeria would be paramount in his decisions.
“I promise to do the politicking with the interest of Nigeria in my mind, respect for one another irrespective of our party differences,” he said.
This article was originally published on Nigeria News