VICE President Yemi Osinbajo has stressed the negative consequences of hate speech in any polity, emphasising the need for Nigerians to focus on the issues that bind rather than those that cause division in the country.
He stated this at the weekend in Abuja during the public presentation and launching of the book, “The Making of a Million Smiles: Reflections on Rwanda’s Rise from Ashes” by Retired Rear Admiral Samuel Ilesanmi Alade.
Professor Osinbajo, who was represented by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello, said there were lessons Nigerians should learn from the Rwandan genocide of 1994; the mistakes and the success story, pointing out that the book would prove useful to every Nigerian.
The vice president, therefore, commended the author for the worthy contribution to the nation’s body of literary, adding that the work was a practical reminder, which could not have come at a better time as the country prepared for the 2019 elections.
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In his remarks, a former Federal Commissioner for Information and Culture, Retired Major General Ibrahim Bata Malgwi Haruna, who was the Chairman of the occasion, said the book gave a good account of the Rwandan genocide and how the people have moved on, giving the hope that no matter the circumstance, trust could be regained through consistent seeking of the truth and peace, as well as working towards inclusiveness and cooperation.
He called on Nigerians to shun hate speech in its entirety and all other utterances that could cause discord and heat up the polity, noting that the launch presented an opportunity to draw and share the experience of Rwanda, and implored all Nigerians to support the author’s efforts.
In his speech, the author, Retired Rear Admiral Alade, said the book was an admonition to all and sundry that the Rwandan genocide did not just happen overnight but was as a result of hate speeches which persisted over time, pointing to what Nigeria was currently experiencing.
Rear Admiral Alade, however, stressed the need for a complete departure from such a trend.
In a goodwill message, the Rwandan High Commissioner to Nigeria, Stanislas Kamanzi, commended the author for penning down his thoughts on the lessons to be learnt from his country’s period of great grief, which, he said demonstrated his sense of responsibility.
Kamanzi then expressed the hope that Nigerians would learn from past mistakes and go on to make the country great.
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