…says Villa chapel next to President’s kitchen
Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo has told a story of President Muhammadu Buhari’s exemplary religious and ethnic tolerance, urging Nigerians to emulate him.
The Vice President spoke to a listening audience at the formal opening of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) General Assembly/NEC Meeting, at the National Mosque on Friday.
He said the Villa Chapel in Aso Rock, is located close to the first family’s kitchen, and noted that such level of tolerance should be a shining example to others in leadership position.
According to Osinbajo, “Every Sunday, my family and over 100 Christians attend service in the Chapel at the Villa. The Chapel is located in the premises of the President and his family. It is located a few seconds away from the First Lady’s kitchen. Sometimes when I see the President on a Sunday morning, he asks me whether the service is over already or I am escaping from the service! That is the sort of tolerance that we need in a multi-ethnic, multi-religious society and it is the duty of leaders to show that sort of example.”
Osinbajo observed that the topical issue of religious intolerance is one that present day leaders cannot afford to ignore, unlike in the First Republic.
He posited that, “ …it is my respectful view that the burden of ensuring that faith promotes national
development as opposed to impeding it is on leaders. This is the challenge I pose to you today.
