Nigeria’s Ambassador to South Africa, Femi Fani-Kayode, has pushed back against comments by Islamic scholar Sheikh Yahaya Jingir concerning Nigeria’s religious identity and the continued adoption of Muslim-Muslim presidential tickets.
Jingir has sparked debate with comments supporting Muslim-Muslim tickets ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Reacting to the remarks, Fani-Kayode argued that Nigeria should not be described as either a Muslim or Christian country, stressing instead that the country is a secular and multi-religious state.
In a response shared publicly, the former aviation minister described aspects of Jingir’s remarks as provocative and warned against rhetoric that could deepen religious divisions.
Fani-Kayode also said he respected Jingir but disagreed with the cleric’s position on the country’s religious identity and political arrangements.
The exchange comes as debates over religion, political representation and the 2027 presidential election continue to intensify across Nigeria.
The Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket remains one of the most contentious issues in Nigeria’s political discourse, particularly since President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima were elected on the same-faith ticket in 2023.