Islamic cleric Sani Jingir has defended his call for Muslims to support a Muslim-Muslim political ticket in Nigeria, saying he has no regrets over the remarks and will not apologise.
Jingir spoke in an interview with BBC Hausa following his address at a mass wedding organised by the Kano State Government for 1,500 couples, where he urged Muslims to vote in accordance with their numerical strength.
The cleric said his position was driven by his religious convictions and was not an endorsement of President Bola Tinubu, former President Muhammadu Buhari or any particular politician.
“I have absolutely no regrets. I stand firmly by my words and will never apologise. I will continue to advocate for a Muslim-Muslim ticket,” he said.
Jingir said his advocacy was based on what he described as his responsibility as a religious leader to educate his followers on matters of faith and public responsibility.
“I am not campaigning for Bola Tinubu, I am campaigning for my religion,” he said.
He also urged Muslims to participate actively in politics, arguing that political engagement should be guided by religious convictions rather than financial inducements from politicians.
“My advocacy for a Muslim-Muslim leadership structure is not about Tinubu or Muhammadu Buhari. It is strictly for the sake of Allah,” he said.
Jingir said religious leaders had a responsibility to speak from the pulpit on issues they considered important, describing the preaching platform as a sacred avenue for educating the public.
He acknowledged that his position would attract criticism but said public backlash would not make him withdraw his views.
The cleric, however, stressed that his advocacy did not prevent other Nigerians from exercising their democratic rights.
He said Muslims were free to vote for candidates of their choice, while he would continue to encourage them to support what he described as a “righteous and better Muslim”.
Jingir also maintained that Islam prohibited corruption and stealing, suggesting that religious identity should not be separated from standards of conduct in public office.
He said he was prepared to face the consequences of expressing his views, adding that criticism would not deter him from speaking on issues he believed in.
“My words carry no harm. I explicitly stated that people are free to vote for whoever they want, while I will personally do what aligns with my beliefs,” he said.
Jingir further claimed that his position had received considerable support from members of the Muslim community, citing the reaction of participants at the Kano mass wedding.
His comments, however, have drawn criticism from sections of the public, with opponents accusing him of promoting religious division and warning that faith-based political mobilisation could deepen Nigeria’s existing religious tensions.
The controversy has again placed religious identity and political representation at the centre of Nigeria’s political debate, particularly following the emergence of a Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket in the 2023 general election.
(The Sun)