Northern Islamic Cleric Warns Muslim Leaders: Stop Campaigning For Tinubu With ‘Muslim-Muslim’ Ticket, Show Nigerians His Scorecard
Northern Islamic Cleric Warns Muslim Leaders: Stop Campaigning For Tinubu With ‘Muslim-Muslim’ Ticket, Show Nigerians His Scorecard
The cleric made the remarks while addressing his congregation in Hausa, in a video seen by SaharaReporters.
A northern Islamic cleric has warned Muslim religious leaders against campaigning for President Bola Tinubu by presenting him to Nigerians as their fellow Muslim or highlighting the fact that he chose a Muslim running mate.
The cleric said religious leaders who intend to support Tinubu ahead of the 2027 presidential election should instead campaign for him based on his achievements, policies and performance since assuming office.
He also urged Nigerians to be allowed to consider other political candidates if there are no concrete achievements of the Tinubu administration that can be used to justify another campaign for the president.
The cleric made the remarks while addressing his congregation in Hausa, in a video seen by SaharaReporters.
Speaking about the role of religious leaders in politics, the cleric said politicians and those supporting them must be patient with criticism, insisting that speaking the truth remains a religious obligation.
“The politicians should be patient. It is our duty to speak the truth, and Allah has commanded us to speak the truth. We will not stop speaking the truth,” he said.
He specifically cautioned Islamic clerics who engage in political discourse against using religion as the primary argument for supporting Tinubu in the next election.
“Therefore, I advise the clerics who speak about politics that, this time around, they should not campaign for Tinubu by presenting him as our fellow Muslim or as someone who chose a Muslim as his running mate,” the cleric said.
“If they want to campaign for Bola Tinubu, this time, he should come forward and let us examine the progress he has made since taking office. If life has become easier under his administration, tell us. If there is any achievement worthy of praise, come out openly and explain it to us.”
The cleric challenged Tinubu’s supporters to point to specific achievements in critical sectors of the economy and public services rather than relying on the religious identity of the president and his vice president, Kashim Shettima.
He listed education, healthcare, agriculture, business and road infrastructure among the areas where the administration should be judged.
“If Bola Tinubu has brought progress in education, healthcare, agriculture, businesses, or road infrastructure, or if he has fulfilled the promises he made, including providing the electricity he promised when he assumed office, then come out and tell us about these achievements,” he said.
“He can be campaigned for based on those accomplishments.”
The cleric further distinguished his assessment of the president from his view of state governors, saying that governors could be judged by projects and other developments that residents can physically see in their communities.
“As for our governors, we stand with them because we can see the projects and work they are doing. May Allah judge every governor according to the things they have done, which we can see for ourselves,” he said.
He therefore urged anyone planning to campaign for Tinubu to focus on his administration’s record and present tangible evidence of what the president has achieved since taking office.
“So, whoever wants to campaign for the President this year should first show us what he has achieved and campaign for him based on those achievements,” the cleric said.
He added that religious leaders should not use the president’s Muslim identity or the Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket as a means of persuading Nigerians to vote for him if his supporters cannot point to achievements worthy of another mandate.
“And if there is nothing to campaign for him with, then allow others to come forward so that we can try and see whether Allah will give us someone who can do better,” he said.
