President Bola Tinubu has sent a message to Nigerians, asserting that the nation’s security is inextricably linked to mutual respect and religious harmony.
He warned that attempts to paint Nigeria as a land of religious intolerance are false narratives that must be “firmly resisted” to preserve the country’s indivisibility.
The President delivered this charge on Monday, at the 4th International Conference of the Centre for Islamic Civilisation and Interfaith Dialogue at Bayero University, Kano (BUK).
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He was represented at the high-profile gathering by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris Central to the conference was the life of the late Sheikh Mahmud Abubakar Gummi.
Tinubu hailed the renowned scholar as a visionary who bridged the gap between faith and governance.
Tinubu described Gummi as a mentor who worked with post-independence authorities to heal the nation after the civil war.
The President noted that Gummi’s legacy teaches that “work and worship” can coexist to strengthen, rather than divide, the Nigerian state.
Addressing the nation’s safety, the President linked internal peace directly to the quality of interfaith relations.
He used the platform to provide updates on the National Security Emergency declared in November 2025.
He said more than 7,000 trained forest guards have now been deployed nationwide to reclaim corridors previously held by bandits and terrorists.
He added that his administration is moving forward with constitutional processes to entrench state policing, aimed at bringing law enforcement closer to the communities they serve.
Tinubu highlighted a “strategic” security partnership with the United States, emphasising that while it focuses on intelligence and counterterrorism, operations remain strictly led by Nigerian troops to respect national sovereignty.
The President urged Nigerians to reject any rhetoric that exploits religious differences for criminal or political gain.
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“Our national security is tied to our unity, our togetherness, and our respect for religious diversity,” the President stated. “We must forge a united front against those who seek to divide us.”
The event drew assembly of academic and religious leaders, including Sheikh Abdullahi Bala Lau, National Chairman, JIBWIS, Professor Shehu Ahmad Galadanci, Chief Imam of Kano State, and Professor Haruna MusabVice Chancellor, BUK.Members of the Gummi family, including Sheikh Ahmad Mahmud Gummi and General Abdulkadir Mahmud Gummi (rtd).
