Buhari, govs should drop idea of imposing tribe, religion on Nigeria – Prof Asaju, Ajayi Crowther University VC

BISHOP Theologian of the Anglican Church of Nigeria and Vice-Chancellor, Ajayi Crowther University, Oyo, Rt. Rev. Professor, Dapo F. Asaju, has called on President Muhammadu Buhari as well as some governors in the country to jettison the agenda of imposing one tribe or religion over the other.

He made the call in an exclusive interview with the Tribune Online, shortly after delivering a lecture entitled: Education: Solution to Nigeria’s Economic And Security Challenges, being part of the annual birthday lecture series for the Presiding Bishop, Victory International Church (Worldwide), Bishop Taiwo Adelakun.

At the event which held at the church’s headquarters, Oluyole Estate Extension, Ibadan, Professor Asaju, noted that the president and the governors must allow peace to reign, adding that Nigeria can only survive in diversity, “they should allow peace to reign.”

“They do not have to be biased. They must be very strict and firm against those Fulani herdsmen and against those people who are causing troubles.

“We must encourage a good relationship between the Christians and the Muslims. We can live in peace together, we are one people and there is no reason we should continue the way things are. President Buhari and the governors should please, drop every agenda to impose one tribe over the other and one religion over the other.

“They should allow peace to reign, let them remember the poor people and find jobs for younger people who are graduates with no jobs. If they are able to do this, then things would be better,” Professor Asaju posited.

Speaking on the state of security in the country, the cleric attributed the spate of armed robbery and kidnapping to the rate of unemployment among youths, high level of poverty in the land and political instability, which he said people are reacting against.

“That is why we are saying we need educated elites, not education by books and certificate acquisition but those who have good character, those who have the fear of God who can lead us better.”

He further stated that: “Nigerian government must come down from their high platform and dialogue with the people. They must stop the wave of corruption, embezzlement, they must do programmes that will employ the majority of the youths and graduates who have no job. Agriculture is there, housing is there. They need to stop contractors who are stealing our money and use direct labour.

“They need to repair our hospitals, repair our roads and empower the police, recruit more men, empower them to be sure that they protect the people. I also want to warn this country if we continue this way if the masses should revolt, even the rich would find it difficult to survive. We should manage the peace we have now and allow the government to be relevant to the people.”