By Olatunbosun Obafemi
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has urged the people of Plateau State and Nigerians at large to promote peace, tolerance, and unity as essential ingredients for the nation’s progress.
The President made the appeal on Saturday in Jos during the funeral service of Mama Lydia Yilwatda, mother of the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda.
Tinubu, who spoke on the importance of religious harmony, emphasized that faith should be a source of love, not division.
“I inherited Islam from my family, and I didn’t change, but my wife is a pastor who prays for me at all times,” the President said. “I have never tried to convert her because I believe in freedom of religion. We are all answerable to the same Almighty God, and our deeds and character will speak for us. What matters most is our love for one another.”
The President urged Nigerians to shun religious and ethnic differences, stressing that peaceful coexistence remains the foundation for national growth and development.
In his remarks, Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, thanked President Tinubu for taking time out of his busy schedule to attend the ceremony.
The governor described insecurity as one of the major challenges confronting the state but assured that his administration had put in place concrete measures to restore lasting peace and stability.
Earlier, the APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, described his late mother as a loving, selfless, and devout woman who lived a life dedicated to service and compassion.
“She was a strong, loyal, and determined woman who lived for others. Whatever I gave her, she shared with our neighbours. That is the woman we are celebrating today,” Yilwatda said.
He also expressed appreciation to President Tinubu, governors, members of the National Assembly, and the people of Plateau State for standing by his family during their period of grief.
