Some Islamic leaders have said rhetoric against Christians over the Muslim-Muslim ticket of President Bola Tinubu could hurt his chances at the polls.
They urged Nigerians to prioritise competence, fairness, national development and unity above religious considerations.
The clerics spoke in the wake of the controversy trailing the 2027 same-faith ticket of Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima.
The controversy intensified last week when a Kaduna-based Islamic cleric, Sheikh Sani Jingir, stated that the Muslim-Muslim ticket and Tinubu’s victory were proof that Muslims outnumber Christians in the country.
Commenting on the matter, the Wakeelul Muslimeen of Yorubaland, Edo and Delta, Sheikh Iskil Awwal, said the country could not afford to place religion above competence at a time when it was grappling with economic challenges and insecurity.
The cleric called on Nigerians, irrespective of their religious backgrounds, to unite in prayer for the country.
Awwal said, “In the 1970s, Nigeria was among the countries providing financial aid to countries in the Middle East. But the reverse is the case now. At this time, the country needs someone who can move it forward, not religion.”
Speaking on the Tinubu administration, Awwal recalled that he was among those who travelled to Sokoto State in 2022, alongside six traditional rulers from the South-West, including the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, the Olu of Ilaro, Oba Elegushi and the Olugbon, to appeal to northerners to support Tinubu.
Awwal said he represented Muslim clerics from the South-West during the visit, adding that the team also included a former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Chief Bisi Akande, and a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole.
“Chief Bisi Akande led the politicians, while the Ooni of Ife led the traditional rulers from Yorubaland to the palace of the Sultan of Sokoto,” he said.
Awwal implored all Muslim leaders to refrain from incitement.
“Muslims are not the only people living in Nigeria. We should be wary of any action that could diminish the chances of President Tinubu.
“The country needs unity at this critical moment, and Nigerians should put competence and national development above religious considerations,” he added.
Also speaking, the National Missioner of Ansar-Ud-Deen Society of Nigeria, Sheikh Abdurrahman Ahmad, said Jingir was entitled to his opinion, but that did not mean it represented the position of the entire Muslim community.
He said what was important was to examine the fairness, representativeness, effectiveness and decency of those in government rather than emphasising their religion.
Ahmad said, “There are states in Nigeria where you have a Christian-Christian ticket, and Muslims are there. Muslims never make so much noise about it. So, I think what is important is not for us to emphasise people’s religion.
“What is important is to interrogate the fairness, representativeness, effectiveness and decency of those who lay claim to this.
“For instance, even at the national level, where the Muslim-Muslim ticket is being operated, are Muslims well represented in appointments? Are federal appointments balanced? Are they fair? Are they lopsided in favour of Muslims?
“What advantage has the Muslim community gained from this Muslim-Muslim ticket? It is a political winning formula, no more, no less.”
The cleric said politicians should not be allowed to turn the Muslim-Muslim ticket into a religious issue, adding that Muslims and Christians would continue to coexist in the country.
“The rights of individuals must not be dependent on their religious convictions, ethnic background or connections. They must be based on merit, fair representation, equity and justice,” he added.
Ahmad also noted that the Catholic bishops who recently visited the President were concerned about economic hardship rather than the Muslim-Muslim ticket.
“Even the Catholic bishops who recently visited the President, led by Cardinal John Onaiyekan, were not talking about the Muslim-Muslim ticket. They were complaining about what they perceive as the economic hardship facing ordinary Nigerians. Everything must not be given a religious colouration,” he added.
Also commenting on the matter, the founder and National President of Jama’atu Ta’awunil Muslimeen, Sheikh Daood Molaasan, cautioned Muslim leaders against what he described as provocative statements.
He warned that any statement considered offensive to people of other faiths on the Muslim-Muslim ticket could hurt the President.
Molaasan, who spoke with Sunday PUNCH on Saturday, said, “Muslim leaders should exercise caution on this Muslim-Muslim ticket. They need not utter any statement that will be considered offensive to Christians or others. Islam preaches unity and respect.
“If we consider the Muslim-Muslim ticket as favourable, we need to be careful in our utterances and activities. Offensive statements are likely to hurt the government or the person we are trying to protect.”
The cleric also appealed to Jingir and other Muslim leaders to adopt a moderate approach to political issues.
“Governance has nothing to do with religion, and that is why we have the Constitution. Under Tinubu’s administration, some of us believe that Christians outnumber Muslims in his cabinet and government agencies. So, the religion of the President or his vice president is not really the issue,” he said.
