Lucky Obukohwo, Reporting
Islamic cleric and leader of the Izala Scholars Council, Sheikh Sani Yahaya Jingir, has defended his recent endorsement of a Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket, declaring that he has no regrets despite the controversy and backlash his comments have sparked.
Truth Live News Media reports that Jingir stated this in an interview with BBC Hausa monitored by Journalists on Wednesday.
He maintained that his position was rooted in his religious convictions and responsibility as a Muslim, rather than political considerations.
The cleric dismissed suggestions that his remarks were politically driven, insisting that he was only expressing his position based on his understanding of his faith and obligations as a Muslim.
His earlier declaration had attracted criticism, with much of the reaction focused on the wording and manner in which he expressed his position, rather than necessarily on the principle of supporting a Muslim-Muslim ticket.
However, Jingir maintained that he would continue to support and encourage Muslims to back such an arrangement regardless of the criticism.
“I will continue to support and encourage the Muslim-Muslim ticket. What they say would not stop me. They started it; at a point, we suffered in their hands,” he said.
The cleric made the remarks during a mass wedding organised by the Kano State Government for 1,500 couples, where he declared his support for the Muslim-Muslim ticket and urged Muslims to vote in a manner that would demonstrate their numerical strength.
Jingir said his decision to support the arrangement followed President Bola Tinubu’s emergence with a Muslim running mate.
He also maintained that, as a Muslim preacher, he had the right to advocate a political arrangement consistent with his religious convictions.
The cleric further challenged claims that Christians or other religious groups constitute a larger population than Muslims in Nigeria.
His comments have continued to generate debate, with critics taking issue with the manner and language of his declaration, while others have defended his right to express his religious and political position.
Jingir, however, said the criticism would not stop him from continuing to support and encourage Muslims to back a Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket.
