Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Thursday accused Nigerian elites of promoting insecurity in Nigeria.
He said the elites have been promoting insecurity through their ethnic and regional sentiments, activities and utterances.
Osinbajo bared his mind during the Leadership Newspapers Conference and Awards ceremony at the International Conference Centre Abuja.
He said elites’ criticism of the activities of government without consideration was a recipe for insurrection and insurgency.
The VP also joined other Nigerians in honouring the founder of Leadership Media Group, Sam Nda-Isaiah, who died on December 11, 2020.
He said, “Some of the elites can’t come to consensus when it comes to insecurity. The chief weakness that we have is the human one. Our political, economic and religious elites are socially irresponsible. Either by selfish interest or lack of self awareness, they are unable to build the social and political consensus upon which a just and orderly society can start.
“And because government must form some consensus, the elites use to paint them dubious one. They promote tribal and religious frontline for legitimacy.
“So, the attacks received on law and order are themselves symptomatic and they are driven by emerging critics of the fabric of order itself.
“These critics are manifesting as insurrection and insurgencies along various aspect of our identity.”
While cautioning young Nigerians agitating for separation, he warned that secession would only lead Nigeria to extinction.
The Sultan of Sokoto Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, said God did not make mistake bringing Nigeria together.
He said, “It is important for us to look at these issues that really bind us together; then the little ones that separate us because so many of us have become close to one another.
“One wonders if we are to go our one million ways. How do we survive but God Almighty Allah can never make mistake. So whatever He has done, His will must be obeyed. So bringing us together as Nigerians is not a mistake and that is what God wants.”
He stressed the need for Nigerians to close ranks and help one another in the face of challenges.
The Sultan said those trying to fan the embers of hatred through religion would not succeed.
“Those trying to fan the embers of hatred, division and whatever through religion will definitely fail because we’ll not succumb to their atrocities, we’ll not give in and will continue to work for the betterment of our great country Nigeria”, he said
The Editor-in-chief of Leadership Newspapers Group Limited, Azubuike Ishiekwene, described Sam Nda-Isaiah as a man of style.
He said, “Sam was a man of style, a restless seeker for value, his wrist watch told time and history.
