You will recall that Professor OSINBAJO first met a group of select leaders from the North on Tuesday; yesterday, he continued his consultation in a meeting with political and religious leaders from the South-East.
In a text of his remarks obtained by our correspondent, Professor OSINBAJO urged leaders across the country to speak out against hate and divisive comments.
In his remarks at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa in Abuja, the Acting President said the meeting was very urgent and crucial because of the loud voices of hate speeches and divisive comments resonating across the country, which he said required urgent attention from all concerned.
The Acting President said now was not the time to hide under any ethnic or religious platform to support comments that divide rather than unite Nigerians as a nation.
He warned that violence and war were not going to do anyone any good, adding that no one who has seen the face of wars on Television who wish it for another person.
Professor OSINBAJO noted that the Federal Government was resolved not to allow anyone get away with hate speeches and divisive words, warning that emotion should not be allowed to run wild so as to threaten the existence of anyone anywhere in Nigeria.
He said government will do everything within its power to protect the lives of every citizen anywhere and in any part of the country.
Our correspondent reports that the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives were present at the meeting, as well as the Governors of the five states in the South-East.
The Deputy Senate President IKE EKWEREMADU; former Senate President, KEN NNAMANI; Senator JOY EMORDI and Professor VIOLA NWULERI were also in attendance, in addition to he Catholic Bishop of Awka and the Catholic Archbishop of Nssuka.
Others who attended the meeting included the Chief of Staff to the President ABBA KYARI, the National Security Adviser, BABAGANA MONGUNO, the Chief of Defence Staff, the Service Chiefs and the Inspector General of Police.
