Osinbajo: Nigerians united by extreme poverty

Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo does not want Nigerians to latch on to religious or tribal sentiments in driving division, but to focus on conquering the poverty that unites the nation.

Fielding questions at the 21st Nigerian economic summit in Abuja, he said political actors would often times seek to divide Nigerians along religious and ethnic lines, but Nigerians must expose their lies.

“Political actors always tend to revert to their tribal or even religious affiliations as an explanation to why things are not going right for them,” he said.

“Look at the kind of engagement you have; four people are appointed to political office today and people don’t ask, ‘are these good people’? The question is; are they not all from southwest? Oh, all of them are from the northeast.

“A lot of that talk is actually fuelled by the elite, who always think this is the fastest way of getting recognition. My assessment of this is that politicians and leaders use this to fuel and advance their interest.

“The Nigerian people, whether from the southwest, northeast, are united in one thing – the majority are extremely poor, and the majority want real opportunities.”

He urged the majority of Nigerians not to dwell on the tribal or religious sentiments the elites try to drive in the nation, adding that these elites always collaborate to steal, regardless of tribal groups.

“You would find that the elite, whether from the southwest, northeast or wherever are willing to collaborate when it comes to stealing from the state.”

The professor of law added that the government and the economic team, which he is supervising, would ensure the adoption of social programmes promised.

Ibukun Awosika, first female chairman of First Bank and Frank Aigbogun, the chief executive officer of BusinessDay newspaper, moderated the vice president’s interactive session.