A former federal lawmaker, Shehu Sani, on Sunday said the reason many religious leaders lose their voice is as a result of belonging to the same denomination as their “oppressors”.
Newsbreak.ng reports that Sani was seemingly reacting to the suspension of Sheikh Nuru Khalid, an Abuja-based Imam, by his mosque’s committee.
Khalid, the Chief Imam of Apo Legislative Quarters Mosque, was suspended over a sermon considered to be “anti-government”.
The mosque committee of Apo legislative quarters, Abuja, had suspended Khalid, popularly known as Digital Imam, over a sermon he delivered on Friday, April 1.
Khalid, who is also the Founder of Islamic Research and Da’awah Foundation, in the sermon, criticised the government for its failure to stop insecurity in the country.
The Imam specifically told the electorate not to vote for any politician who cannot guarantee them the safety of lives and properties.
While delivering the sermon, he said, “Nigerian masses should resort to only one term which is – protect our lives, we will come out to vote; let us be killed, we will not come out to vote, since it’s only elections that you people know.
“We need prayers. We need supplication. This is very important at a time when Nigeria is facing a very serious challenge. Everything is not working well. People are dying. Our roads are not secured.
“Most part of the country is not secured. The government is always telling us that they are doing their best. But we deserve more than that best as citizens because we want a secured Nigeria.
“What you are telling us is that your concern is about the 2023 elections. And what I am telling the citizens is to send a message that we are going to vote under one condition. Nigerian masses should resort to only one term which is – protect our lives, we will come out to vote; let us be killed, we will not come out to vote, since it’s the only language you understand, we are going to speak it.
“Our lives are important to us. We want to live. Our wealth and dignity are is important as well. You must do something to secure our lives and make our security workable. We cannot afford to be moving like this. People attacking our trains, killing our people as if there is no government in this country.
“They (bandits) can gather and disseminate intelligence information as if they are a government of their own while our government cannot share information and stop the rubbish on our ways.”
In a statement sent to BBC Hausa Service, the chairman of the mosque committee, Senator Saidu Muhammed Dansadau, said the imam was suspended over his sermon.
The statement accused Khalid of “inciting public outrage”, saying his preachings negated the tenets of Islam.
Reacting to the trending issue, Sani wrote on his verified Twitter handle: “Many religious clergies lose their gospel voice or dilutes their sermons when the oppressor is of their faith or denomination.”
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