Islamic cleric and Chairman of the Izalatil Bid’a Wa’ikamatis Sunnah (JIBWIS), Sheikh Sani Yahaya Jingir, has rejected claims that he harbours hatred towards Christians, saying his recent comments on Nigeria’s Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket were misunderstood.
Jingir made the clarification at a one-day national symposium in Jos, Plateau State, where he also called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, state governors and other political leaders to govern with justice and fairness regardless of religion, ethnicity or political affiliation.
The symposium, titled “Enhanced Political Participation and Social Justice as a Panacea for Unity and Development in Nigeria,” focused on political participation, social justice, national unity and development.
Jingir says comments were misinterpreted
The cleric came under criticism following remarks he made at a mass wedding organised by the Kano State Government for 1,500 couples.
His comments at the event, which were interpreted by some Nigerians as hostile towards Christians, generated significant controversy, particularly against the backdrop of the debate over the Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket ahead of the 2027 election.
Jingir has now sought to clarify his position.
According to him, his support for a Muslim-Muslim ticket should not be interpreted as hatred for Christians or other non-Muslims.
He said the allegation that he dislikes Christians was false and maintained that his remarks had been misinterpreted.
‘Islam teaches fairness’
The cleric said Islamic teachings require Muslims to treat people of other faiths with fairness and justice.
He argued that leadership should not be used to discriminate against people because of their religious identity.
Jingir also referred to the example of Prophet Muhammad’s peaceful coexistence with people of other faiths, urging Nigerians to promote tolerance and peaceful relations among different religious and ethnic communities.
He subsequently directed his appeal towards the country’s political leadership.
Jingir urged Tinubu and state governors to ensure that their decisions and policies serve Nigerians fairly, regardless of whether they belong to the same religion or political party as those in government.
Appeal to Tinubu
The Islamic scholar specifically called on President Tinubu not to discriminate against Muslims or non-Muslims and urged him to govern with justice.
He also extended the appeal to Nigerians who belong to opposition parties, stressing that political differences should not determine how citizens are treated by government.
Jingir maintained that every Nigerian has the right to support whichever political candidate they believe is suitable.
His comments come after he previously defended his support for a Muslim-Muslim ticket and said he had no regrets about his earlier position. In an interview with BBC Hausa earlier in August, Jingir maintained that his support was based on his religious convictions rather than an attempt to campaign for Tinubu.
The controversy surrounding his earlier comments had prompted condemnation from several religious and civic groups.
The Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC), jointly led by the Sultan of Sokoto and the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, had earlier condemned what it described as divisive comments attributed to Jingir.
Jingir’s latest remarks therefore represent a clarification of his position, as the country enters an increasingly heated political season ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
He also called on Nigerians to prioritise peace and unity, warning that meaningful national development would be difficult to achieve in an atmosphere of insecurity and division.