President Bola Ahmed Tinubu delivered a message of religious tolerance and unity during funeral prayers for Nana Lydia Yilwatda Goshwe, mother of the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman Professor Nantewe Yilwatda Goshwe, in Plateau State on Saturday.
News.ng recalls that the APC chairman’s mother died in August.
Speaking at the somber occasion, the President urged Nigerians to embrace love over division, declaring, “Hate is not an option for us. Love is what you preach, that we should love one another.”
In a deeply personal reflection, President Tinubu cited his own interfaith marriage as proof that religious differences need not breed conflict. “I inherited Islam from my family. I didn’t change. But my wife is a pastor. She prays for me,” he revealed.
The President emphasized that he has never attempted to impose his beliefs on his wife, stating: “No conflict. And I never did at any single time to convince her or convert her. I believe in the freedom of religion.”
Tinubu underscored the fundamental unity of all faiths, arguing that denominational differences are less important than moral character. “We are praying to the same God. We are answerable to the same almighty God. We will answer to him,” he said.
He concluded with a message about divine purpose and human responsibility: “Nobody, nobody determines what God has ordained. God’s ordained action and his promises is what matters… Our deeds, our character, our love for our fellow beings is what is important. Not the method and the faith that God gives.”
The remarks come at a time when Nigeria continues to grapple with religious tensions in various parts of the country, particularly in the northern part of the country, making the President’s call for tolerance particularly significant.
