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• Condemns politicisation of Islamic scholars
From Desmond Mgboh, Kano
The African Democratic Congress (ADC), Jigawa State chapter, has rejected the endorsement of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for a second term by more than 500 Islamic scholars, clerics and preachers who gathered in Dutse at the weekend, warning against the politicisation of religious leaders.
The party described the endorsement as unfortunate and urged Islamic scholars and clerics to preserve their independence, neutrality and moral authority rather than allow partisan politics to undermine their credibility.
In a statement on Tuesday, Deputy Chairman of the Jigawa State ADC, Nuraddeen Suleiman Jidawa, said the party respected the right of individual clerics to make political choices but objected to such preferences being presented as religious verdicts or the collective position of the Muslim community.
The ADC also faulted the communiqué issued after the clerics’ meeting, particularly its claim concerning the Kano-Dutse/Kano-Maradi railway project.
According to the party, the project was approved and awarded under the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari in 2021 and should not be presented as a project initiated by the Tinubu administration.
It challenged the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led Federal Government to identify major capital projects initiated and substantially executed by the Tinubu administration in Jigawa State.
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The opposition party also rejected claims that the security situation in the country, particularly in the North-West, had significantly improved, citing recent incidents of kidnapping and terrorist attacks in Kaduna, Sokoto and Zamfara states.
It further referred to an August 24 report by Al Jazeera on a video purportedly showing a large number of abducted persons being held by armed men following reports of the abduction of hundreds of worshippers in Niger State.
Against the backdrop of the continuing attacks, the ADC described attempts to portray Nigeria’s security challenges as largely resolved as “irresponsible.”
The party urged Islamic scholars, clerics and preachers to guard their independence and resist political influence, financial inducements or access to power that could compromise their credibility and standing in society.
Turning to the economy, the ADC blamed the removal of petrol subsidy for the sharp rise in transportation, food and other living costs, arguing that Nigerians continued to bear the burden of the government’s economic policies.
It urged citizens to assess the Tinubu administration on the basis of its performance in security, economic welfare, employment, infrastructure, transparency and accountability rather than political endorsements.
The party maintained that while Islamic clerics, like other Nigerians, were entitled to individual political preferences, such endorsements should not be portrayed as religious pronouncements or as representing the position of Nigeria’s Muslim community.
