President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Saturday reaffirmed his mission to unite Nigerians, assuring Christian communities in Northern Nigeria of his administration’s commitment to fairness among all religions.
Tinubu gave the assurance during a meeting with Christian leaders at the headquarters of the Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN) in Jos, Plateau State.
“I have a mission to unite this country, ensure its prosperity, and we are making progress,” the President said.
Paying tribute to the mother of the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman, Nana Lydia Yilwatda, who passed on at 83, Tinubu recalled his own interfaith family background. “In our family, we have a strong Muslim background, and I married a Christian, a pastor for that matter, and I have never forced her to change her religion,” he said.
He urged the clergymen to have faith in his administration, stressing the responsibility of leaders to manage religious issues for the benefit of all citizens.
The President also reaffirmed his government’s commitment to tackling insecurity, particularly terrorism, banditry, and farmers-herders clashes. “We are defeating bandits, and we will defeat them. We will deal with them and combat the farmers-herders clashes,” Tinubu declared.
On the economy, Tinubu said his administration is implementing reforms to improve the welfare of all Nigerians.
During the funeral prayers, the President described the late Nana Lydia Yilwatda as a devoted mother.
“The history behind this church is rooted in faith with deep acceptance in the Lord and tradition. I have been to Jos before. When we were coming here, Governor Caleb Muftwang showed me one of the bungalows, the house of Ambassador Yahaya Kwande. During the SDP days, we met there to decide the fate of MKO Abiola.
“Today, I am grateful that I am alive and to God be the glory to be the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and to come here to bid farewell to the mother of the community, and a humanitarian”.
The chief mourner and APC National Chairman, Professor Nantawe Yilwatda, said his mother was a hard-working woman who lived on medication for 47 years.
“I am here to thank God for her life. My mother worked for twenty-four hours despite her health condition, supporting us and providing humanitarian assistance.
He thanked President Tinubu for his emergence as APC chairman and promised to keep the trust.
Reverend Dr Amos Mohzo, President and Spiritual leader of the Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN), who spoke on behalf of the clergymen, thanked the President for his support of Northern Christians, especially by appointing them to key positions, such as Senator George Akume, who holds the post of Secretary to the Government of the Federation, and Professor Nantawe Yilwatda, who is the National Chairman of APC, among others.
The COCIN President particularly thanked the President for his response to the insecurity in Plateau and Benue and urged the President to assist victims of conflict in Benue, as well as ensure the safe return of some Christian communities who fled Borno and Adamawa to Cameroun as a result of insurgent attacks.
Mohzo assured the President of their unflinching support in his administration’s determination to actualise the Renewed Hope Agenda.
The funeral prayer was attended by the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, Chairman, Nigerian Governors Forum, AbdulRazaq Abdulrahman, APC Governors, NSA Malam Nuhu Ribadu, Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, Minister of Youth Development Ayodele Olawande, Minister of State (Petroleum) Heinekin Lokpobiri, Minister of Regional Development Abubakar Momoh, Special Duties Minister Zephaniah Jisalo,
Also present were the SGF, George Akume, and his predecessor, Boss Mustapha, as well as former governors Tanko Al-Makura of Nasarawa, Adamu Mu’azu of Bauchi, Fidelis Tapgun of Plateau, Yahaya Bello of Kogi, and Rochas Okorocha of Imo.
Members of the APC National Working Committee, Senators, members of the House of Representatives, former House Speaker Yakubu Dogara, and directors from the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs also attended the funeral.
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