The former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayodehas said Nigeria is a multi-ethnic and multi-religious state which belongs to all her citizens.
In a lengthy post via his Twitter account on Tuesday, Fani-Kayode said Nigeria does not belong to Christians or Muslims, and neither does the country belongs to one ethnic group or the other.
He said the strength of the nation lies in its ethnic and religious diversity, adding that anyone who wants to lead the country must be prepared to build genuine bridges of love, understanding, compassion, sensitivity, and camaraderie between all ethnic nationalities and religious faiths.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain added that Nigerians must never allow sectarian and religious considerations to determine the nation’s politics or the choices Nigerians make in terms of leadership.
He wrote: “The peace, unity, progress, and prosperity of Nigeria is our first priority and every leader and politician worth his salt must and will engender and defend that priority with his life if necessary.
“Our strength lies in our ethnic and religious diversity and if you want to lead this country you must be prepared to build genuine bridges of love, understanding, compassion, sensitivity, camaraderie, and fraternity between all of its ethnic nationalities and religious faiths.
“Nigeria does not belong to Christians or Muslims and neither does she belong to one ethnic group or the other: she belongs to us all.
“Religious bigotry, whether Muslim or Christian, must be rejected and condemned by all. We must never allow sectarian and religious considerations to determine our politics or the choices we make in terms of leadership.
“Before being Christians or Muslims we are Nigerians and we are all proud sons and daughters of the greatest, most unique, most versatile, most blessed, most beautiful, and most dynamic multi-racial, multi-ethnic, and multi-cultural nation on earth.”
