Osinbajo - “Our country’s major problem is that we play politics with everything”

Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo has urged Nigerians to stop dividing the country along ethnic and religious lines.

Osinbajo also said that as long as citizens remain divided, the nation can’t stand.

The Vice President made the comments on Sunday, September 27, 2015, during the 55th Independence Anniversary Interdenominational Church Service held at the National Christian Centre in Abuja.

“Our nation is sharply divided for long along religious and tribal lines. The moment we are divided against ourselves we can’t stand,” Osinbajo said.

“We must also speak on the unity of the country. It will make a difference in the future of this country. Our country’s major problem is that we play politics with everything. We play politics with religion, we play politics with tribe.

When a bomb goes off in Potiskum or Maiduguri, it doesn’t ask questions, whether you are a Yoruba, Igbo or Hausa. The issues that we see go beyond the contest between Christians and Muslims. We have seen children and adults blown to pieces who are victims of insurgency. There were Christians, Muslims and those who do not profess any faith.

Jesus Christ did not come to this world to celebrate religion, but for redemption. He came to make sacrifice for us. The message of Jesus Christ transcends religion. No matter what it is that we face, the answer lies in the love of Jesus Christ. That is what we see as Nigeria clocks 55. We also expressed our condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in Mecca,” he added.

Nigeria will celebrate its 55 year of Independence on October 1, 2015.

Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari has allocated only N70 million for the country’s independence celebrations due to the economic crisis in the country.