“I have no regrets. I will continue to support and encourage the Muslim-Muslim ticket. What they say will not stop me. They started it; at a point, we suffered in their hands.”
These, among others, were the words of controversial Islamic cleric and Chairman of Jos zone of Jama’atu Izalatil Bid’ah Wa’ikamatis Sunnah (JIBWIS), Izala Scholars Council, Sheikh Sani Yahaya Jingir.
Widely criticized for his earlier comments describing Christians as “infidels” and supporting the Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Jingir has now doubled down on his remarks.
According to him, he is unrepentant over the comments because, to him, Nigeria is a Muslim country and his perspectives are backed by the Quran.
Shiekh Jingir was stoutly defending his position while speaking in an interview with the BBC.
Jingir, during a recent mass wedding organised by the Kano State Government for 1,500 couples, declared his support for the Muslim-Muslim arrangement and urged Muslims to vote in a manner that would demonstrate their numerical strength in the country.
Kano State governor, Abba Yusuf, was reportedly at the event.
Jingir had said, among others: “I am one of those who raise the flag of Islam. I am calling on people to come and let us do Muslim-Muslim again.
“I know this statement pains the unbelievers. I am a Muslim who preaches Islam. If I say Muslim-Muslim, what have I taken away from them?”
Speaking to BBC, he added that, as a Muslim preacher, he had the right to advocate a political arrangement that was consistent with his religious convictions.
The cleric also challenged claims that Christians or other religious groups constituted a larger proportion of Nigeria’s population than Muslims.
He said his position was not politically motivated or intended to campaign for President Bola Tinubu, but was based on what he described as his responsibility as a Muslim.
According to the Islamic cleric, he would continue to support and encourage Muslims to back a Muslim-Muslim ticket, regardless of the criticism his position might attract.
Reactions
His earlier comments drew widespread criticism from prominent Muslims, Christian leaders, leading Nigerians as well as the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
For instance, former governor of Kano State, Engr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, condemned Jingir for the comments, saying it did not represent the opinion of the people of Kano State.
Fiery Christian leader, Prophet Isa El-Buba handed Jingir a verbal tongue-lashing, describing him as one of those intent on Islamizing the country through violence, insisting that such would never happen.
El-Buba, a Borno-born Muslim who later converted to Christianity, had unprintable words for the likes of Jingir.
Nigeria’s Ambassador to South Africa, Femi Fani-Kayode, said Jingir was working against the political interest of President Tinubu.
Executive Secretary, National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Tony Ojukwu SAN, called for Jingir’s arrest, pointing out that his comments were causing greater animosity within the country.
People&Politics notes that to date, Jingir is yet to be arrested.
Pro-Biafra group, IPOB was acerbic in its reaction, highlighting that Jingir’s comments underscored the imperative for its (IPOB’s) struggle for an independent Biafra nation.
Claiming that Jingir’s opinion represented that of a group allegedly intent on foisting a single religion by violence on Nigerians, IPOB insisted that there is an Islamization agenda underway which,it said, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, IPOB leader, foresaw a decade ago and which he has been fighting, saying it was now clear to Nigerians that Kanu was right and doubters wrong.
*PHOTO CAPTION: Sheikh Jingir.
