Jos, Plateau State – President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Saturday delivered a heartfelt message of peace, unity, and religious tolerance during the burial of Late Mama Lydia Yilwatda, mother of the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda.
Addressing mourners at the Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN) Headquarters, located along Fidelis Tapgun Road, Jos, the President emphasized the importance of coexistence across faiths.
“Hate is not an option. I inherited Islam from my parents, but my wife is a pastor. She prays for me, and there’s no conflict,” Tinubu said, highlighting the possibility of harmony in a religiously diverse society.
Earlier in the service, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda paid tribute to his late mother, recounting her uncommon dedication to her family. He revealed a touching anecdote about her careful management of family resources “Even as a pastor’s wife, my mother was responsible for our school fees and other needs. Yet, she passed every resource through our father, and all along we thought it was his. Only when we grew up did he tell us the truth.”
The funeral service brought together a remarkable gathering of Nigeria’s leaders, including APC State Governors, the Senate President and principal officers, the Speaker of the House of Representatives and his team, ministers, business leaders, and clergy.
In a moment of personal connection, President Tinubu also adopted Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda as his son, affirming their strong bond “I don’t run an orphanage, but I have adopted Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda as my son. He’s a good man, a great thinker, a progressive thinker, and that’s why we decided he should lead us as our Chairman.”
The funeral service celebrated the life and legacy of Late Mama Lydia Yilwatda, remembered as a devoted mother, a faithful pastor’s wife, and a woman whose integrity and guidance shaped her family’s future.
