Insecurity: Abuja mosque sacks imam for ‘inciting public against government’ in sermon (video)
Mosque Committee of the Apo Legislative Quarters, in Abuja has suspended its Chief Imam, Shiekh Nuru Khalid, for offences said to border on ‘inciting the public against the government’ during last Friday’s sermon delivered by him.
Sheikh Khalid was alleged to have berated the Federal Government over its handling of rising cases insecurity perpetrated by bandits and terrorist who have laid siege to communities in the north, while asking Muslim faithful to hold their local representatives accountable by refusing to vote, since, according to the imam, ‘that is the language the politicians understand.’
In the sermon, the imam hinted at some measures that electorate should devise should the authorities fail to protect their lives.
“Nigerian masses should resort to only one term which is – protect our lives, we will come out to vote; let us be killed, we will not come out to vote, since it’s only elections that you people know,” he added.
In a statement, Chairman of the Mosque Committee, Senator Saidu Muhammed Dansadau, a copy of which was sent to BBC Hausa Service, said the committee suspended the embattled imam over his sermon that it deemed ‘inciting public outrage’.
“I am informing you that you have been suspended from leading prayers in the Apo Legislative Quarters Mosque from today being April 2nd, 2022 until further notice.
“The decision was taken out of the inciting Friday sermon you delivered on April 1st, 2022; where you advised people not to vote come 2023 general elections unless politicians respond to some critical questions.
“You should have advised them to vote out those that transgress the Almighty and breach people’s social contract as well as the state,” the statement read.According to the Mosques Committee, Sheikh Khalid’s sermon negated tenets of Islam.
The committee has immediately appointed Malam Mohammad who will deliver Ramadan Tafsir while Malam Abdullahi will be leading Friday prayers.
However, rising to the defence of the embattled sheikh, former senator who represented Kaduna Central senatorial zone at the National Assembly, on Sunday, said the cleric has ‘demonstrated fidelity to his faith.’
Reacting via his verified Twitter handle (@ShehuSani), the senator said: “Sheikh Nuru Khalid dusted the mirror the Clergies used to show GEJ and he showed it to the President and his colleagues couldn’t stand it.
“Khalid has demonstrated fidelity to his faith, to his conscience and to his conviction.”
Continuing, Sani said: “The suspension of the Imam of Apo Friday Mosque Sheikh Nuru Khalid by the Mosque Steering Committee is unconscionable. His criticisms of the Government reflects the views of most Nigerians. He spoke truth to power at the right time.I urge the committee to reverse the decision.”