By RhemDy News
Former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, has condemned comments attributed to Kano based Islamic cleric, Sheikh Sani Yahaya Jingir, accusing the cleric of secretly working against the reelection of President Bola Tinubu.
Fani-Kayode, in a statement on Monday to his Facebook condemning the cleric for declaring Nigeria as a Muslim country and for calling for the indefinite retention of the Muslim-Muslim presidency, maintained that Nigeria remains a secular nation, warning against divisive rhetoric.
He also expressed sadness that the Kano State governor, Abba Yusuf was cheering the divisive statement by the cleric and celebrating it. "There is only one thing worse and that saddened me more than what he said and that is to have seen my friend and brother the Governor of Kano state, cheering him on and celebrating it.
"We will not keep quiet and watch our faith being dragged all over the floor because of politics.
Matters of faith and salvation are far more important than anything we see or get in this world.
Politics and earthly power come and go but faith and the after life is eternal.
"This divisive rhetoric has to stop and we should stop playing with fire. You do not talk like that in a country with over 120 million Christians. This is especially so when we are already being falsely accused of Christian genocide and of harbouring an agenda to Islamise the country and do away with all Christians by some of our American friends," the former minister said.
He stressed that Jingir was not only feeding into that false narrative with his "reckless" words but also endangering the chances of candidacy of President Bola Tinubu of his party in the 2027 presidential election "because in order for us to win we need both Muslim and Christian votes."
Fani-Kayode stated that the Islamic cleric has by the statement given the opposition something to hold on to and use against his party, describing this as unfortunate.
He added that, "There is no Christian that will support a party that regards members of his or her faith as infidels, and I am glad that many Muslims across party lines have condemned his outrageous comments."
The ex-minister further held that Jingir does not represent the feelings of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and neither does he speak for the party but himself.
"He must be called to order and if he insists on delving into politics, he should do so with decency, restraint, respect to all and decorum and leave religion out of it.
"You cannot hurt the feelings of others, denigrate their beliefs, insult their faith and treat their most sacred values and beliefs with such contempt and expect them to keep quiet, not protest and continue to stand by you.
"A man's faith, whether Christian or Muslim, must be respected and no religious faith is greater or more important than the other.
"We are all one before God and we should live in peace with one another always showing each other love and respect which both the Koran and the Bible talks about," he said.
Fani-Kayode the demanded the Department of State Services (DSS) to invite Jingir and formally cautioned him before he sets this country in fire.
He maintained that Christians are not infidels but believers while insisting that nobody is going anywhere the country belongs to everyone.
Fani-Kayode noted that slippery slope that the Sheik has chosen to take is a very dangerous one that is best avoided. "Nigeria is not a Muslim country and neither is she a Christian country.
"Nigeria is a secular and multi-religious state comprising of both Christians and Muslims in equal numbers and that is our strength.
"We are supporting a Muslim/Muslim ticket for 2027, as we did in 2023, only because of the calibre, ability, sincerity of purpose, character, utility and electoral strength of our Presidential and Vice Presidential candidates and their ability to deliver and not because they are Muslims," he said.
Fani-Kayode also added that just as Nigeria has a Muslim-Muslim ticket presently, the nation will also has a Christian-Christian ticket in the future "because with God all things are possible".
"We must leave religion out of politics and consider issues, policies and personalities instead. Sheik Jingir does not represent or reflect the thinking of the majority of Nigerian Muslims but only a tiny minority of extremists".
He stressed that Sheik Jingir has done immense damage to President Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Imam while suspecting that he was secretly working against them.
"I urge Sheik Jingir to apologise to the Church and the Christians in Nigeria, to be more circumspect and cautious when he speaks and to tread on the path of peace, civility and reconciliation for the sake of our beloved country," Fani-Kayode said.
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