PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has condemned racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia, and related intolerance in different countries of the world, stating that they were the opposite of freedom, justice and peace in the world.

According to NAN, Buhari spoke on Monday evening at the declaration of Nelson Mandela, former South African President, Decade of Peace at the UN headquarters in New York in commemoration of the centenary celebration of the late anti-apartheid icon.

“We recognize that racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia, and related intolerance present the very opposite of the noble purposes of the United Nations,” said President Buhari.

In his address, the President lauded Mandela for his rare virtues. And he indicated the need for the global community to live up to Mandela’s indelible legacies by being accountable to the values and principles and hope for the declaration through striving for a just, peaceful, prosperous, democratic, fair and inclusive world.

He said Nigeria recognizes the equal and the inalienable rights of all citizens and all peoples of the world. He said such recognition would be the foundation of freedom, justice, and peace in the world.

“Nigeria is committed to the promotion and protection of the rights of all women,” Buhari said

According to him, Nigeria acknowledges that tolerance of cultural, ethnic, racial, and religious diversities is essential for lasting peace, understanding and friendship among peoples, nations, cultures, and individuals.

The president noted that the country is ready to move beyond words in the promotion of peaceful, just, inclusive and non-discriminatory societies, stressing the importance of the equal participation and full involvement of women and the meaningful participation of youth in all efforts for the maintenance and promotion of peace and security.

However, critics have accused the President Buhari’s administration of nepotism and tribalism which undermines the principle of diversity that he preaches abroad. In the security sector of the country, most agencies were headed by the northerners in disregard for the principle diversity and the federal character. For instance, the Nigerian Police, Nigeria Army, Nigeria Air Force, Nigeria Intelligence Agency and Department of Security Services (DSS) are all headed by the Northerners.

Many Nigerians have particularly condemned the recent of appointment of Yusuf Bichi a retiree and a northerner, as the Director-General of DSS by President Buhari, in replacement of Matthew Seiyafa, the former acting DG. They described the President’s action as being tribalistic, given that Seiyefa is from Southern Nigeria and Bichi is from the North.