Nentawe Yilwatda, the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has challenged Nigerian religious leaders to focus on fostering reconciliation and unity instead of discord. During the International Conference on National Security for Socio-economic Development in Abuja, he emphasized that Nigeria’s inherent diversity should function as an asset rather than a source of strife.
Drawing on personal history, Yilwatda shared memories of his father, a pastor, maintaining a close friendship with a local imam. He argued that these personal bonds demonstrate that faith differences should not dictate social boundaries. However, he also highlighted the harsh realities of conflict, noting his own experience as an internally displaced person after sectarian violence in Bauchi in 1991, where both Muslims and Christians were forced to flee for their safety.
Yilwatda expressed strong disapproval of politicians who manipulate ethnic and religious identities to gain temporary power, warning that these tactics cause lasting damage to the nation. He urged for an end to the exploitation of religious sentiments, reminding citizens that true leadership involves promoting mutual respect and dignity. The APC chairman concluded by calling on mosques and churches to evolve into hubs of peace and civic responsibility, urging clerics to convey their messages without resorting to inflammatory rhetoric or contempt.
