From The Editorial Desk
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s call on Almighty Allah to turn Nigeria’s diversity into a recipe for prosperity, made on Sunday in Makkah, Saudi Arabia, is more than a routine prayer at a dinner. It is a political statement wrapped in spiritual supplication, delivered from one of Islam’s holiest grounds, at a time when Nigeria’s unity is constantly being tested by ethnic mistrust, religious tension and economic hardship.
The Setting and Symbolism
That the President chose to make this call while hosting members of his delegation for dinner in Makkah is significant. Makkah itself is a symbol of unity in diversity – millions of Muslims of different races, languages and cultures converging in one place in worship of one God. By praying from there, Tinubu subtly draws a parallel: just as diversity does not divide pilgrims in Makkah, it should not divide Nigerians at home.
It is also a message targeted at two audiences. To the international community, especially in the Arab world, it portrays Nigeria as a country conscious of its pluralism and seeking divine help to manage it. To Nigerians back home, both Muslims and Christians, it is a reassurance that the President recognises diversity as a national asset, not a liability.
From Cliche to Policy Question
Successive Nigerian leaders have described diversity as strength. What has often been lacking is the translation of that rhetoric into concrete policies that make citizens feel a sense of belonging.
President Tinubu prayed for Allah to bless Nigeria with peace, harmony and prosperity, and to grant leaders wisdom, courage and foresight. The critical analysis here is that prayers must be matched with governance actions.
For diversity to truly become a recipe for prosperity, several ingredients must be added:
1. Inclusive Governance: Appointments, projects and opportunities must reflect federal character not just on paper, but in perception. When citizens from all zones see themselves in government, the prayer for brotherhood becomes easier to achieve.
2. Economic Inclusion: Diversity becomes divisive when poverty and unemployment are high. Tinubu’s prayer for improved living conditions is apt. If prosperity is not shared – if a farmer in Benue, a trader in Aba and a fisherman in Ibesikpo Asutan can all feel the impact of reforms – then unity remains fragile.
3. Justice and Fairness: Peaceful coexistence, which the President emphasised, thrives where justice is seen to be done. The prayer for strengthened bonds of brotherhood must be supported by a system where citizens feel protected by law regardless of ethnicity or religion.
Patriotism as a Two-Way Contract
The President also prayed that Allah would inspire patriotism, compassion and service. Analysts would note that patriotism is not demanded; it is earned. Nigerians are more likely to show renewed spirit of patriotism when the state shows compassion to them through functional schools, hospitals, electricity and security.
His call for mutual understanding is timely. Nigeria in the last few years has witnessed an increase in divisive rhetoric on social media, where ethnic profiling has become common. A presidential message that reframes diversity as a source of advancement rather than division is therefore a needed counter-narrative.
Conclusion
In essence, President Tinubu’s dinner prayer in Makkah captures the ideal Nigeria – united, peaceful, prosperous. It acknowledges that diversity is a fact we cannot change, but prosperity is a choice we can make through wise leadership.
The prayer has been offered. The task now returns to Abuja. For the prayer to be answered, the administration must ensure that no Nigerian feels like a stranger in his own country because of his name, accent or faith. Only then will diversity truly become, as the President said, a recipe for prosperity and not a recipe for suspicion.