Vice President Yemi Osinbajo says unity and tolerance are key elements in promoting national security, economic success, and greatness.

In a statement on Wednesday, Mr Osinbajo’s media aide Laolu Akande said the vice president received a delegation from Arewa Concerned People for National Unity and Religious Tolerance at the Presidential Villa.

Auwal Maidabino and Usman Ado-Bayero led the delegation. Mr Osinbajo explained that some of the greatest nations in the world were multiracial, multiethnic, and multireligious.

“There is no great nation anywhere that has not had this sort of challenge, especially where you have a multiracial, multireligious setup. The greatest nations in the world are multiracial, multireligious, and multiethnic,” said the vice president. “As a matter of fact, some of these things are as important as the economy and security. A united people, people who see themselves as one, are more likely to be economically successful, more likely to be able to secure themselves and secure their borders.”

According to Mr Osinbajo, religious tolerance and unity is a matter that goes beyond mere advocacy. He said he believed strongly that the greatness of nations, wherever the countries might be, had always been on account of leaders who thought it fit to build those nations based on unity and tolerance.

“I think that it is such an important issue that we cannot afford to discount it. There is a need for us to pay more time and attention to these issues in whatever way we can because every once in a while, we see some threats to the unity of our country,” he added.

Mr Maidabino commended the vice president for his approach to governance. He stated that Mr Osinbajo had impacted many Nigerians across different sectors through schemes such as TraderMoni, National Homegrown School Feeding Programme, N-Power, and the Ease of Doing Business.

“We wish to commend and congratulate you for your contributions in the area of promotion of good governance, transparency, and efficiency. They are exemplified with the core principles behind the Ease of Doing Business initiative of this government,” Mr Maidabino said.