Former Deputy Nationwide Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Bode George, has acknowledged that the British colonial administration planted the seeds of tribalism and spiritual bigotry in Nigeria, which has continued to divide the nation a few years after independence.
Talking on Come up TV’s Morning Present on Thursday, Chief George described the dual points as the foundation causes of most of Nigeria’s political and social crises.
He emphasised that the nation’s failure to transcend ethnic and spiritual sentiments has hindered its progress.
“Two evils had been planted by the British on this nation – tribalism and spiritual bigotry. No matter it’s we’re doing, each time there’s one concern or the opposite, you possibly can hint it again to both tribalism or non secular bigotry,” the PDP chief stated.
George argued that Nigeria’s variety ought to be a energy fairly than a supply of division, noting that interfaith and interethnic relationships have lengthy been a part of the nation’s social cloth, notably within the western area.
“Have a look at the difficulty of this Christian-Muslim divide. Within the Western space, you possibly can hardly discover a dwelling that won’t have Christians, Muslims, and traditionalists,” he stated.
“In my household, my older sister was a Muslim until she handed on. She needed to go to Hajj, I despatched her there. She got here again and needed to attend Quranic faculty, I sponsored her. After they had been going to construct a mosque close to her home, I participated. She was a full-fledged Muslim.”
Describing Nigeria’s persistent non secular conflicts as “an existential imbecility,” George stated they haven’t any bearing on good governance or nationwide growth.
George urged Nigerians to reject divisive tendencies and give attention to constructing a united, equitable, and progressive nation, saying, “All this stuff we’re speaking about — faith and tribe — haven’t any bearing on the administration of this nation.”
