Nigeria at 66: Sanwo-Olu urges citizens to set aside ethnic, religious differences

Lagos State governor, Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu has urged Nigerians to set aside ethnic, religious and other differences and work collectively towards building a peaceful, stronger and more prosperous country.

Sanwo-Olu made the call on Friday at the Lagos Secretariat Community Central Mosque, Alausa, Ikeja, following a special Jumat service held to mark Nigeria’s 66th National Independence Day.

The governor, who was represented at the event by his deputy, Dr Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, said Nigeria possessed the human resources, expertise and natural wealth required to achieve sustainable development and greater prosperity.

However, he identified national unity as a key factor in harnessing the country’s potential, noting that divisions among Nigerians had continued to hinder the pursuit of common goals.

“Part of the challenge is that we are not united as a people. We see ourselves differently, so there is no coincidence of purpose,” Sanwo-Olu said.

He maintained that Nigerians would be able to achieve greater progress if they worked together towards a shared national objective.

“If we unite and come together, we have the talent, ability and resources to lift this country. So, I am saying that unity is very important, and that’s the major challenge that we face,” he said.

Sanwo-Olu also attributed some of the country’s longstanding-difficulties to divisions among its people, citing the Civil War as an example of the consequences of disunity.

The governor stressed that the task of building a better Nigeria should not be left to the government alone, calling on religious and traditional leaders, the private sector and citizens to play active roles in national development.

He recalled the response to the COVID-19 pandemic, when government agencies, private organisations, religious institutions and individuals collaborated to confront the crisis.

According to him, the spirit of collective action demonstrated during the pandemic should not be limited to emergencies but should also be channelled towards addressing the country’s wider development challenges.

Earlier, the Chief Imam of the mosque, Yunuss Al-Imam, urged Nigerians to take greater responsibility for the development of their communities instead of relying solely on the government.

The cleric also called for an end to tribal sentiments and religious intolerance, stressing that no ethnic group should regard itself as superior to another.

“I want to urge the congregation to shun tribalism, religious intolerance and traditional conflicts, and instead embrace peace, mutual respect and peaceful coexistence for the progress and development of society,” he said.