JOS — Islamic cleric and Chairman of the Council of Ulama of Jama’atu Izalatil Bid’ah Wa Iqamatis Sunnah (JIBWIS), Sheikh Sani Yahaya Jingir, has rejected claims that his recent political comments were driven by hatred for Christians, saying his position should not be interpreted as hostility towards Nigerians of other faiths.
Jingir made the clarification in Jos while speaking at a one-day national symposium focused on “Enhanced Political Participation and Social Justice as a Panacea for Unity and Development in Nigeria.”
His comments come against the backdrop of a controversy that erupted after he spoke at a Kano State Government-sponsored mass wedding involving 1,500 couples earlier this month.
At the Kano event, Jingir publicly advocated continued support for a Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket and urged Muslims to use their voting strength during elections. The comments triggered criticism from some Nigerians and reignited the long-running debate over the place of religion in Nigerian politics ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Jingir: Political preference does not mean hatred for Christians
Addressing the criticism in Jos, Jingir said claims that he dislikes Christians were false and resulted from what he described as a misunderstanding of his position.
The cleric maintained that Islamic teachings require Muslims to treat people of other faiths with fairness, justice and compassion.
He argued that leadership should not be used to discriminate against citizens because of their religion, sect, ethnicity or political affiliation.
According to Jingir, Muslims would also be accountable for acts of injustice committed against non-Muslims.
He further cited the example of Prophet Muhammad’s interactions with people of different faiths, arguing that peaceful coexistence and fairness should remain important principles in society.
The clarification is significant because it comes only days after Jingir defended his earlier political comments and said he had no regrets about supporting the idea of a Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket. In an interview reported after the Kano controversy, he said his position was based on his religious convictions rather than an endorsement of a particular politician.
Cleric puts responsibility on political leaders
Beyond defending his personal position, Jingir used the Jos symposium to address the conduct of political leaders.
He called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, state governors and other public officials to administer government without discriminating against citizens who belong to different religions or political parties.
He specifically urged Tinubu to ensure that both Muslims and non-Muslims receive fair treatment under his administration.
The cleric also warned political leaders against discriminating against people simply because they did not support the ruling party.
His message, in essence, was that political competition should end at the ballot box and should not determine how citizens are treated after elections.
This position places the emphasis on justice in governance rather than religious or partisan identity, an issue that remains particularly sensitive in Nigeria because political competition frequently intersects with ethnic, regional and religious interests.
‘Every Nigerian has the right to choose’
Jingir also defended the freedom of Nigerians to make their own political choices.
He said citizens should be allowed to support whichever candidate they believe is suitable during elections.
The position is particularly relevant as political activity begins to intensify ahead of the 2027 elections, when questions surrounding religion, political alliances and presidential tickets are expected to become increasingly prominent.
Nigeria’s 2023 presidential election already demonstrated how strongly religious considerations can influence political debate. President Tinubu’s decision to run alongside Kashim Shettima produced a Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket, departing from the religious balancing arrangement that had become common in previous presidential contests.
Jingir has since emerged as one of the prominent religious voices openly defending that arrangement.
Why the Kano remarks became controversial
The latest clarification cannot be separated from the events at the Kano mass wedding.
Jingir’s comments at the event were widely circulated online and interpreted by critics as an attempt to mobilise Muslims politically around religious identity.
The controversy became sufficiently serious that former Chief of Defence Staff General Lucky Irabor publicly warned against statements he considered potentially inflammatory, saying comments capable of increasing tension should attract appropriate attention from law-enforcement authorities.
Jingir, however, subsequently maintained that he had no regrets about his position and insisted that his advocacy for a Muslim-Muslim ticket reflected his religious convictions rather than support for a particular individual.
His latest remarks in Jos therefore appear to draw a distinction between advocating for a particular political or religious position and discriminating against people because of their faith.
Peace remains central to development, Jingir says
The JIBWIS leader also linked political fairness to Nigeria’s broader development challenges.
He argued that sustainable development cannot take place in an environment dominated by insecurity, division and mistrust between communities.
His appeal was therefore broader than the immediate dispute over his previous comments: he urged Nigerians to strengthen unity and peaceful coexistence among the country’s various religious and ethnic communities.
The argument comes at a time when political rhetoric is increasingly being scrutinised because of its potential impact on Nigeria’s already fragile social relationships.
For a country with a large and diverse population made up predominantly of Muslims and Christians alongside followers of other beliefs, statements from influential religious figures can carry considerable political and social weight.
What happens next?
Jingir’s latest intervention is unlikely to end the debate over his political position.
His clarification may help distinguish his stated opposition to discrimination from his strong support for a Muslim-Muslim political arrangement. However, critics are likely to continue examining whether political mobilisation around religious identity can coexist with the broader principle of equal citizenship.
The issue is also likely to resurface as political parties, candidates and interest groups begin positioning themselves ahead of the 2027 elections.
For President Tinubu and other political leaders, Jingir’s appeal presents a straightforward test: whether citizens who support different parties, religions or candidates can expect equal treatment from government.
For voters, the emerging debate is equally important. Political and religious leaders have the right to express their views, but citizens ultimately retain the constitutional right to choose their representatives freely.
As Nigeria moves closer to another major election cycle, the challenge will be ensuring that political competition does not deepen existing religious and ethnic divisions.
The central message from Jingir’s latest remarks is therefore clear: whatever political or religious preference Nigerians hold, governance should be based on fairness, justice and equal treatment for all citizens.
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