By John Ugo
Nigeria’s Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, has urged traditional rulers to always ensure ethnic and religious tolerance amongst people in their domains in order to foster peace and unity in the country.
Prof. Osinbajo spoke on Saturday during the conferment of the chieftaincy title of Oduma (Lion) of Auchi on the Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Prince Clem Agba, by the Otaru of Auchi, His Royal Highness Alhaji Aliru Momoh, Ikelebe III in Auchi, headquarters of Etsako Local Government Area of Edo State. In attendance at the occasion were senior officials of the administration and Edo State government as well leading businessmen including the Deputy Governor of Edo State, Comrade Phillip Shaibu, who represented Governor Godwin Obaseki, the former Chairman of the All Progressives Congress(APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, Minister of Finance Budget and National Planning, Mrs Zainab Ahmed, Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, Minister of State for Labour, Festus Keyamo, and Minister of State for Power Engr. Abubakar Aliyu. Other dignitaries included traditional rulers including the representative of the Oba of Benin, the Minister of Youths and Sports, Sunday Dare, Accountant General of the Federation, Auditor General of the Federation, and other political appointees.
The Vice President said Auchi where he underwent his compulsory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme, symbolises what Nigeria should do to accommodate everyone irrespective of ethnic or religious backgroundtl.
Osinbajo noted that “the Auchi kingdom has its rich and special history and a celebrated innovation and enterprise of its sons and daughters has brought development and prominence to this kingdom and Edo State. It is remarkable and worthy of praise that in the great Auchi Kingdom, adherents of both major religions in Nigeria, Islam and Christianity have lived and continue to live harmoniously together for centuries, sharing a common bond as members of this community and even of the same biological families.”
He added that Auchi is therefore in a real sense not just the microcosm of Nigeria, but also an exemplification of Nigeria’s finest values of mutuality and community.
“Our country needs men and women who see and understand that our ethnic diversities is not a point of difference, men and women who understand that all people regardless of ethnicity and faith deserve to be treated equally, fairly and justly, and this is where the significance of the traditional institution comes to be because they are regarded and rightly so, as the custodians of these values and embody the highest and noblest ideals of the people.”
In his speech, Agba said the conferment was an appreciation and encouragement for him to continue to offer more service to humanity.
He commended the Edo State government for continuing ten erosion check programmes across the state, which he said were started when he was the Commissioner for Environment under the administration of Comrade Oshiomhole and appealed that the Benin Water Storm Project, which they also started should not be abandoned.
