The Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, has called on Nigerians to make deliberate efforts to build a stronger national identity that transcends ethnic, religious and cultural differences.
 
Hamzat made the call yesterday at the 7th National Discourse, themed “Interrogating Nigeria’s Democracy in the Context of Multiple Diversity,” held at the J.F. Ade Ajayi Auditorium, University of Lagos (UNILAG), Akoka, Lagos.
 
He said Nigeria’s political system must develop effective ways of accommodating the country’s diverse identities without allowing them to undermine national unity.
 
According to him, ethnic and religious identities remain deeply rooted in Nigeria’s social and political life, stressing that the challenge is not to eliminate such identities but to prevent them from becoming instruments of division.
 
“The question that sociologists have not told us is how we marry our culture and democracy, without losing our identity and putting it into our democratic setting. And I think that will be the issue for us.”

“As Nigerians, we must learn to accommodate our differences while we are also promoting a common national identity. The experience of other multi-ethnic societies showed the dangers of allowing identity and class differences to fuel conflict among us,” Hamzat said.
 
The deputy governor also advocated greater religious tolerance and adherence to the core teachings of Islam and Christianity, urging citizens to respect the faith of others rather than use religion as a basis for discrimination.
 
He emphasised the importance of culture in strengthening national unity and urged Nigerians to preserve their cultural heritage while building a common national identity.
 
In his keynote address, the Senator representing Edo North, Adams Oshiomhole, called on Nigerians to shun ethnic and religious divisions and build a nation where leadership is determined by competence, ideas and values rather than place of birth or religious affiliation.
 
Oshiomhole said ethnicity and religion should not be used as tools for political mobilisation or to shield leaders from accountability.
 
Speaking at the event, the Chairman of the Occasion and former Governor of Kano State, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau, called for greater religious tolerance and understanding among Nigerians.
 
Shekarau said there was no justification for religious conflict in a country where citizens, regardless of their faith, were all creations of Allah.