Islamic cleric and leader of the Izala Scholars Council, Sheikh Sani Yahaya Jingir, has insisted he has no regrets over his recent declaration of support for a Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket, despite widespread criticism of the remarks.
Speaking in an interview with BBC Hausa monitored on Wednesday, Jingir clarified that his position was not politically motivated or intended as a campaign for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Instead, he described it as part of his responsibility as a Muslim preacher.
“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,” he alleged.
Background to the Controversy
The cleric had earlier made the comments during a mass wedding organized by the Kano State Government for 1,500 couples, where he openly declared his support for the Muslim-Muslim arrangement and urged Muslims to vote in a way that demonstrated their numerical strength.
Jingir explained that his stance was reinforced after President Tinubu “raised the flag” of the Muslim-Muslim ticket, adding that, as a preacher, he had the right to advocate for a political arrangement consistent with his religious convictions.
He also challenged claims that Christians or other religious groups constitute a larger population than Muslims in Nigeria.
Mixed Reactions
His remarks have continued to generate heated reactions. While some commentators have described them as divisive and potentially harmful to Nigeria’s fragile religious balance, others have defended his right to express both his religious and political views.
A political analyst observed that Jingir’s comments could consolidate support among Muslim voters who backed the Muslim-Muslim ticket in the 2023 presidential election, but cautioned that the position might alienate non-Muslim voters who previously supported President Tinubu ahead of 2027.
