National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has warned Nigeria cannot afford another ethnic war.
The consequences, he said, would be so grave that the entire West Africa sub-region will not be able to cope with.
He called on warring parties across the country to embrace peace.
Tinubu spoke on Friday during the eighth-day Fidau prayer for late Lateef Jakande, first civilian governor of Lagos state.
He appealed to Nigerians not to turn “whatever challenges we are facing right now” into ethnic, religious or tribal crisis.
“Nigeria is currently facing a crisis; a crisis of insurgency, banditry in all aspects of security, but God Almighty that made this country as one of the largest and most resourceful country will protect us,” Tinubu said.
“I appeal, in his (Jakande’s) memory today, for us not to turn whatever challenges we are facing right now into ethnic, tribal and religion crises.
“If there is a crisis, where do we go? We will submerge the entire West Africa, there will be no enough space to accommodate us.
“Those who have seen the effect of war, the effect of tribal conflict, of religion conflict, will never want it for Nigeria.
“We pray to God to strengthen our mind, guide our faith, put peace and bring peace unto this land, may Allah bless all of us.”