The National Democratic Congress flag bearer, Peter Obi has cautioned the Nigerian youngsters against ethnic and religious divide, urging them not to be used to propagate myths that break the national unity.
Reacting to a thread on social media attacks targeted at Pastor Enoch Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, to spearhead a protest over the deteriorating insecurity in the country, he said; “The 2023 general elections, especially in Lagos State, had lessons on how public discourse can be diverted from issues of governance and development into ethnic and identity-based sentiments.
“Such divisions are used to hide the underdevelopment of the administration of underdeveloped politicians,” he remarked.
“When politicians have a difficult time competing on ideas, performance, character or vision, they have always gone to exploiting the fault lines of ethnicity, religion and identity throughout history. Their reasoning is straightforward. A divided nation is easier to influence than a united people.
“I see the same thing happening today sometimes in more subtle and sophisticated ways. “Narratives are planted, amplified and circulated, often by people who genuinely believe they are defending a worthy cause, without recognising the broader agenda behind such campaigns,” he said.
Obi, therefore, warned that many Nigerians often partake in such stories without understanding the bigger picture of such stories,, and in defense of Pastor Adeboye, he described him as a respected religious leader who has always preached peace, unity,, and reconciliation,, and maintained that it would be unfair to place the burden of responsibility on the cleric that belongs to younger Nigerians, calling on youths to take responsibility for the change of the nation.
“Let me state that Pastor Enoch Adeboye is still one of the great fathers of faith in our nation. For decades, he has been a persistent advocate of the principles of peace, prayer, love, reconciliation and national unity. Even when provoked, he has always responded with humility, control, wisdom, and grace.
“It will be unfair at 84 to transfer to him the responsibilities that should belong to young and able-bodied Nigerians.
“The younger generation has the primary responsibility of building a better Nigeria. It is their responsibility to initiate the talks, push the reforms and drive the good change our nation needs urgently.”
Obi also asked Nigerians to check facts, challenge narratives, and fight manipulation.
“The Nigeria of our dreams can only be built by citizens who refuse to be divided, who choose unity over hatred and who put our collective future above narrow interests,” he said.
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