Former Minister and Nigeria’s Ambassador-designate to South Africa, Femi Fani-Kayode, has described comments by Islamic cleric, Sheikh Yahya Jingir, in support of a Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket in 2027 as ‘highly provocative’, warning that such rhetoric could deepen religious divisions in the country.
The Islamic cleric had, in a video circulating on social media, called on Muslims to support the continued adoption of Muslim-Muslim presidential tickets ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Jingir made the remarks at an event attended by some All Progressives Congress (APC) governors, including Kano Governor Abba Yusuf and Jigawa Governor Umar Namadi.
He praised President Bola Tinubu for adopting the Muslim-Muslim ticket in the 2023 presidential election and declared himself a strong supporter of the arrangement.
Jingir said: “Special thanks to my (political) hero, Bola Tinubu, who raised the flag of this political ideology, describing it as a purely Muslim-Muslim coalition.
“I am among the staunch advocates of the Muslim-Muslim ticket, and I call on you to come together for Muslim-Muslim ticket.”
He acknowledged opposition to the arrangement by Christians and members of other religious groups but questioned whether his advocacy amounted to wrongdoing.
The cleric also urged Muslims to obtain their Permanent Voter Cards ahead of the election, while making remarks about those he described as “infidels” who claimed to be more populous than Muslims in Nigeria.
Jingir subsequently declared his support for Muslim-Muslim candidates and urged other Muslims to adopt the position.
Responding to Sheikh Jingir’s comments on Muslim-Muslim ticket in a post on X on Sunday, Fani-Kayode said he respected Jingir but disagreed with what he described as “extremist rhetoric.
“I have immense respect for Sheik Jingir but I am constrained to point out that the extremist rhetoric he has indulged in here is most unhelpful and neither is it true.
“Worse of all is the fact that it is highly provocative. Kindly take note that it is a very slippery and dangerous slope to take and is best avoided.
“Nigeria is NOT a Muslim country and neither is she a Christian country. She 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.
“We must not allow this issue to divide our ranks. We are NIGERIANS before being Christian or Muslim and we must not only stand as ONE but also go to the polls as ONE,” Fani-Kayode wrote.