Kaduna train attack: Abuja Chief Imam suspended for ‘criticising’ Buhari

Chief Imam, Sheikh Nuru Khalid, has been suspended by the mosque committee of Apo legislative quarters, Abuja of over a sermon he delivered on Friday, April 1.

During his sermon, Sheikh Khalid spoke about the government’s failure to handle insecurity in the country.

He also spoke about the President’s failure to visit Kaduna after the terror attack and added that Buhari condemning the attack wasn’t enough.

He argued that the President was in Kaduna for campaign but refused to visit the state after the bomb attack.

He said: “Everyone condemned the incident, except the bandits. So, condemnation is not enough. The President should visit the state to sympathise with the victims.

“The President has been to Kaduna for campaigns but couldn’t go to the state on a sympathy visit.”

He then suggested a measure that the electorate should devise should the authorities fail to protect their lives.

He said: “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.”

Following his sermon, Sheikh Khalid was suspended.

Chairman of the mosque steering committee, Sai’du Muhammed Dansadau said that the Imam was sacked for an inciting sermon on April 1.

He explained that the Imam had preached against exercising civic duty by advising voters to give conditions to political leaders before electing them.

Dansadau added that the sermon was against Islamic tenets.

Announcing Sheikh Khalid’s suspension, Senator Saidu Muhammed Dansadau said in a statement: “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.”

READ ALSO: Bandits: Return Nigeria to how you met it or “Allah will punish you” – Sheikh tells Buhari

The committee has now appointed Malam Mohammad who will deliver Ramadan Tafsir while Malam Abdullahi will be leading Friday prayers.

In his reaction, in a post written in Arabic, Sheikh Nuru Khalid said “God is the most powerful. He gives (enthrones) and takes away power (dethrones) from whomever He wishes”.

The message was similar to the content of the letter written by Sanusi Lamido II when he was dethroned as the Emir of Kano.

The Imam also urged Nigerians not to relent in praying for Nigeria and its leaders.

He said, “Oh God! the master of sovereignty, you give sovereignty to whom you please, and seize sovereignty from whom you please, you honour whom you please and you abase whom you please, all good is in your hands, indeed you have power over all things.”