TheCable

George Akume, secretary to the government of the federation (SGF), has urged Nigerians to coexist peacefully for the speedy development of the country.

Akume spoke on Thursday at an award ceremony organised by Arewa Youth Advocacy for Good Governance (AYAGG) in Abuja.

Represented by Chris Tarkar, his chief of staff, Akume said the Bola Tinubu administration is grappling with many challenges.

He said the federal government has embarked on a slew of programmes to solve these challenges, adding that Nigerians must unite, irrespective of tribe or religion, to build a better nation.

“We are not by choice Nigerians but we are Nigerians by the making of the Almighty God,” he said.

“We did not choose to be born into any tribe but God in His wisdom coded for us because that is what it should be.

“He also chose that we should all be in this great nation. You could have been an Igbo man in America or Hausa man in China but He decided otherwise, that we should be here.

“In recognition of that fact, we owe it to ourselves to work together.

“We all have differences in terms of culture and religion but if we believe in the unity, the purpose and the greatness of this nation, we can build a great Nigeria.

“The politics of divisiveness either based on religion or ethnic sentiments will not lead us anywhere.”