Osinbajo in Bauchi, pledges religious, ethnic harmony

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has said that every Nigerian, irrespective of faith and ethnicity must be treated with fairness to strengthen the country’s unity.

Osinbajo said this in Bauchi, yesterday, when he visited the Emir of Bauchi, Alh. Rilwanu Adamu, before meeting delegates of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

He said: “At all times, the concern of our government is the plight of the common man; how to ensure that the common man is given a fair chance to be employed and to have a decent living.”

The VP said that was the reason several projects of the present administration, especially the Social Investment Programme (SIP), were tailored to better the life of the common man.

“Also, we have been concerned about young people; how we can improve, not just the quality of education of our young people, but the opportunity for young people to get jobs and have a decent living. This is very important to us as a government.

“This will also explain why I am running for the president of this country come February 2023,” he said.

According to him, one of the critical things he recognised is that Nigeria has different religions, ethnicities and people with different designs.

“But we must treat everybody with justice. We must treat everybody, every faith and every ethnicity with fairness and justice. I believe that this is one of the reasons it is important for us, even in putting ourselves forward for the position of president, to bear in mind that the unity of this country is one of the most important things we need.”

The unity of the country, Osinbajo said, is crucial and there is no point trying to govern a country that is not united, adding that his primary task is to ensure unity and security, which is also very crucial.

“Your Royal Highness, I am here to visit you, to inform you of my intention and to pay homage to you and the entire Emirate Council,” he said.

The Emir appreciated the VP for visiting him, having arrived in the state for political reasons.

Adamu said: “This shows the love and respect you have for the traditional institution.

“We believe that power belongs to Allah and he gives it to whoever he wants. At the same time, by virtue of our position, we are not politicians, we can’t participate in politics but we only advise wisely.”