The leadership of Jama’atu Izalatil Bid’ah Wa Iqamatis Sunnah (JIBWIS), Jos faction, has suspended a cleric, Sheikh Alkali Abubakar Salihu Zaria.
Sheikh Alkali, who was invited to lead the Ramadan Qur’anic exegesis (Tafsir) at Mokas Mosque in Damaturu, was suspended after delivering a sermon in which he criticised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and political leaders over insecurity in northern Nigeria.
According to Daily Trust, the suspension followed a meeting convened by the National Chairman of the JIBWIS Council of Ulama, Muhammad Sani Yahaya Jingir, which included the cleric as well as state and local representatives of the organisation in Yobe State.
The cleric was accused of making strongly worded statements against some political figures, President Tinubu and addressing security issues in a manner said to be inconsistent with the organisation’s established methodology.
During one of his Ramadan sessions, Sheikh Alkali criticised corrupt government officials, governors in the North-West and Tinubu, accusing them of failing to tackle rising insecurity in the region.
He lamented the activities of kidnappers and bandits, saying that political leaders had not demonstrated the will to end the killings and abductions.
“Today people are abducted and traded as though they are cattle. Somebody will be abducted and taken to the bush. They then negotiate the ransom. Families implore, even though the abductors are complete ignorant. They will beat and kick their victims. Often they will stamp their feet on their victim’s stomach in Ramadan,” he said.
The cleric also criticised what he described as the tendency to fear powerful individuals instead of God.
“One of the signs of catastrophes this generation will likely face is the tendency to revere individuals out of fear of their machinations. Look at how state governors fear Tinubu much more than they fear Allah,” he said.
“If you are in APC you are treated like a saint. If you are a member of the opposition, you will be treated like a devil. One will be confronted with trumped-up charges. Who is Tinubu? You deceived us. You are a deceiver and cheat,” he added.
Reacting to the suspension, Sheikh Alkali said he accepted the decision of the organisation in good faith.
In a post on his Facebook page, he described Muhammad Sani Yahaya Jingir not only as a religious leader but also as a father figure.
“To my followers, relatives and associates, I urge you to take heart. This was destined to happen. I cannot exceed the days Allah has written for me to lead Ramadan Qur’anic exegesis in Damaturu,” he wrote.
“I urge you to be disciplined and loyal. What Allah has decided is the best for us.”
0 Comments
DISCLAIMER
The views and opinions expressed on this platform as comments were freely made by each person under his or her own volition or responsibility and were neither suggested nor dictated by the owners of News PLATFORM or any of their contracted staff. So we take no liability whatsoever for such comments.
Please take note!