Nigerian youth advocacy group, the Greater Nigerian Youths Movement (GNYM), has issued a warning about the dangers of playing politics of religion and ethnicity in the country. The group’s chairman, Lukman Olorunloseyi, and secretary, Mohammed Wakil Abubakar, stated in a press release that if current political actors don’t desist from this kind of politics, it could be the undoing of the country.
While calling for an end to the jostling for the leadership of the 10th National Assembly, the GNYM emphasized that religion and ethnicity have caused significant harm to the country over the years and constitute needless fault lines. They commended the election of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, who they believe has taken care of the problem of religion in politics, and called for it to have no place in Nigeria’s body polity moving forward.
According to the GNYM, religion has had a devastating effect on many aspects of the country’s life, including the political terrain. They argued that Nigeria has come of age and should begin to see that religion and ethnicity divide the country more than they unite it. They also called out individuals who play up religion and ethnic factors, saying that it has become a booming industry.
The GNYM commended Asiwaju Bola Tinubu for daring to take on religion in politics and defeating it. They called for an end to politics of religion and ethnicity under any guise, describing it as a “cancer” in Nigeria’s collective life.
Turning to the issue of the senate presidency, the group argued that the North West deserved compensation for its role in the victory of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and should be given the office of the senate president in the 10th National Assembly. They noted that the North West could conveniently boast of serving the victory of the APC and the president-elect and argued that the debate on whether or not they deserve the senate presidency should not have come up in the first place.
The GNYM stated that the North West deserved not just to be compensated but also to be given the office of the president of the senate. They argued that this was not a concession but an earned position. The group warned that if the office goes elsewhere, it might be seen as a reward for rebellion and bad behaviour. This, in turn, would discourage the North West from trusting the country again.
In conclusion, the GNYM called for an end to the politics of religion and ethnicity, stating that it had caused more harm than good in Nigeria. They also argued that the North West deserved the office of the president of the senate and called for the issue to be settled without emotion but based on contributions made.
Seunmanuel Faleye is a brand and communications strategist. He is a covert writer and an overt creative head. He publishes Apple's Bite International Magazine.