Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed has condemned those beating drums of war through hate speeches and divisive statements to desist in the interest of the nation’s unity and safety. The Minister gave the advice on Saturday at the Lai Mohammed 10th Annual Ramadan Lecture held in his country home, Oro, Kwara.
Lai Mohammed expressed concerns over the rate of inflammatory statements capable of causing division and war in the country in recent times.
He urged Nigerians to disregard those who were engaged in hate speeches as well as their purveyors.
In the last couple of months, we have witnessed the increase inflammatory and hate speeches.
Hate speeches have been responsible for wars. Rwandan genocide where more than 800,000 people were killed was started by hate speeches.
Like people say, wars are not really started by bullets, they are started by words of mouth.
Nigeria is too big and God has a purpose for making us one and we shall remain united.
There will be differences, but like the Yoruba says, Ori bibe ko ni ogun ori fifo (translated as: beheading is not the antidote to headache).
“We have been living together peacefully and we will continue to live together, because we have a lot to gain by being united.
“If there is war today, none of us will escape whether you are young or old whether you are Yoruba, Igbo of Hausa,” he said.
The Minister recounted a story he said Acting President Yemi Osinbajo narrated on the dire consequences of the Rwanda war on two judges from that country.
“The Acting President told us a story that in 1982, he was a young lecturer in the University of Lagos and two Supreme Court Judges came visiting from Rwanda.
“He said ten years later, in 1992, he went to work in Rwanda and on the street with a bowl in hand looking for food were the Supreme Court Judges that he saw in Lagos.
“This shows that when there is war, the young, the old, the rich and the poor, we are all victims,” he said.
The Minister stressed that Nigerians must work together, understand their differences and must never pray for war.
