Cleric working for his pocket, Kwankwaso tells Nigerian govt

Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, the Vice-Presidential Candidate for Nigeria's Democratic Congress (NDC), has called on the Federal Government to intervene and caution Islamic cleric Sheikh Sani Yahaya-Jingir regarding his recent anti-Christian statements. Kwankwaso asserted in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the cleric is "only working for his pocket." Yahaya-Jingir had reportedly described Christians as "infidels" at a recent event in Kano State while advocating for a Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket ahead of the 2027 elections. Kwankwaso, a former governor of Kano State, emphasized that such views do not reflect the stance of the majority of northern Muslims. He characterized Yahaya-Jingir's comments as "inappropriate and capable of deepening religious and political divisions in the country." The senator appealed to the federal government and specifically to the wife of the President, Oluremi Tinubu, who is a Christian and a pastor, to mediate and caution the cleric. Kwankwaso believes that the continued spread of such rhetoric is detrimental to national unity, stating, "I believe it is not correct. What Malam Yahya-Jingir is saying is not correct, and it will only succeed in further dividing the country." He urged the Islamic cleric to reconsider his position, highlighting that Christians and other non-Muslims possess equal rights as Nigerians, including the right to vote and participate in the nation's political processes. Kwankwaso also viewed the religious rhetoric targeting non-Muslims as a poor political strategy, given that the electorate includes individuals of various faiths. He expressed concern because Yahaya-Jingir is a respected religious figure whose pronouncements can significantly influence public opinion. Kwankwaso recalled a past cordial relationship with the cleric but questioned his recent statements, saying, "I have a lot of respect for him but I do not know what happened, especially from 2023 to this period, for a leader at that level to come out and make such statements."

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only working for his pocket