Nigerians condemn Islamic cleric, Sheikh Jingir over inciting video against Igbos
Controversial Islamic cleric, Sheikh Sani Yahaya Jingir, has come under fire as many Nigerians have roundly condemned him over an inciting video where he openly said the Fulani people will never forgive the Igbo for killing First Republic politician, Sir Ahmadu Bello.
Bello was the Sardauna of Sokoto, during the 1966 coup led by Maj. Chukwuma Kaduuna Nzeogwu, which many have come to refer as the ‘Igbo Coup’.
The Jos, Plateau State-based Sheikh Jingir who is the National Chairman of the Izala Islamic Movement, stirred controversy following a sermon he made on Friday where he harshly criticized a group of Islamic scholars led by an Igbo Muslim scholar, Sheikh Sambo Rigachukwu, who hosted the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, and some leaders of the opposition coalition under the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
During the meeting with Sheikh Rigachukwu, Obi was dressed in a traditional Hausa attire which apparently got Sheikh Jingir angry, leading him into making the inciting comments during his sermon.
Expressing anger and disapproval at the visit, Sheikh Jingir who spoke with anger in the video, said in Hausa language: “If those scholars are not insane, why would you dress someone from the tribe that killed our Sardauna in Hausa garments? We will never forgive the Igbo for that. Shame on you for receiving the killer of Sardauna! How can you welcome them.”
The comments by Sheikh Jingir did not however sit well with many Nigerians including Muslims and northerners who have condemned him over the remarks which they believe is capable of sparking ethnic and religious crisis in some parts of the country especially the volatile North-East and North-West where religion and ethnicity is taken to an extreme.
A former Minister of Sport, Solomon Dalung who is also from Plateau State, in a post he made on his Facebook page under a regular feature ‘Sunday Corner’, said Sheikh Jingir must be condemned over the outburst against Peter Obi’s visit to Sheikh Rigachukwu.
“The recent outburst by Sheik Yahaya Jingir concerning the visit of Mr. Peter Obi to Sheikh Sambo Rigachukwu is deeply unfortunate and must be condemned in all its ramifications,” Dalung said.
“As an elder and respected religious figure, Sheikh Jingir ought to exercise restraint and wisdom in his public utterances, especially those capable of inflaming tensions and undermining our national unity.
“His age and experience should be assets in promoting harmony, not liabilities that threaten the fabric of our collective existence.
“It is regrettable that he made such weighty and unfounded allegations against reputable personalities and an entire ethnic nationality, this is not only reckless but also unbecoming of a leader of his stature.
“Sheikh Jingir’s continued use of dawah as a political weapon highlights the dangers of religious leaders encroaching into partisan politics. This growing trend underscores the urgent need to regulate religious practices in Nigeria. The government cannot continue to turn a blind eye to such potent threats to our peaceful coexistence.
“It is high time religious clerics were barred from active partisan politics, with strict consequences for violations. Religious platforms must not be used to propagate political bias, hatred, or division.
“I appeal to Sheikh Sambo Rigachukwu, Mr. Peter Obi, and their numerous followers to respond to this unfortunate incident with maturity, calmness, and a commitment to peace. The allegations leveled are clearly baseless, misguided, and appear to be a calculated attempt to tarnish their integrity.”
Other commenters on social also added their voices in condemning Sheikh Jingir over the outburst.
Read some comments below:
“This is what politics have sadly turned our society into! Those who should be preaching unity are the ones promoting division. Sad indeed.” – Rawen Yaweh
“Our religion leaders should be mindful with their utterances. If they can not preach peace, they should keep quiet.” – Comrade Suleman Bunu
“Gaskiya, I am one of the followers of Sheikh Yahaya Jingir but honestly speaking, I totally condemned Sheikh Jingir statement regarding Mr Peter Obi. Mr Obi is a Nigerian politician who is trying to rally everyone along regardless of religion believes and ethnicity. I know Peter Obi can’t harm Northerners more than Tinubu what had done.” – Hassan Adamu
“He and his cohorts are yet to fix the current mess they created by instigating the same faith ticket on the North, and today he dares to speak for the North on who to vote for or not?” – Abubakar Sadiq
“He is a well known fanatic.” – Emmanuel Ajagbo
“That man is not preaching peace but violence why this always.” – Tuwan Timothy
“Hope when southern radical preachers start doing their own for equality no problem with that.” – Odey Fidelis Onusa
Nigerians condemn Islamic cleric, Sheikh Jingir over inciting video against Igbos
