Unless concessions are made, we can’t move forward – Osinbajo
Yemi Osinbajo, Nigeria’s Vice President, has said religious leaders must make concessions for to move forward.
In a statement by his spokesperson Laolu Akande, Osinbajo stated this to a delegation of the Muslim Public Affairs Centre (MPAC), on Monday.
“We can all talk nicely and say the right things, but unless people are prepared to make some concessions which may cost them popularity within their own group, we cannot move forward”, said Osinbajo reportedly.
The VP urged non-violent communication in conflict resolution, citing examples of Mandela and Abdullahi Abubakar — a cleric who saved over 200 Christians during a religious crisis in Plateau state in 2018.
“Those sacrifices are sacrifices, even in what you say, how you say it, and then sacrifices also in the acknowledgment of whatever people are saying and the willingness to accept.
“It is very important that we don’t diminish the importance of language and respectful non-violent communication so that we are able to keep our discussions at a level that ensures that we don’t degenerate too quickly to violence.
“These are stories of people who are not only political or religious leaders but just ordinary people, doing the right thing. Unless we are prepared to not just talk about it but to make an open display, first of all, of those who are doing the right things.
“But more importantly, challenging our leaders to say the right things and to be prepared to risk some popularity in order to do so, then we will just be wasting a lot of time.”
