Ahmad Abubakar Gumi, a well-known Islamic scholar, has reacted to Shiekh Nuru Khalid, the Chief Imam of Apo Legislative Quarters Mosque, being suspended.
WITHIN NIGERIA recalls that the steering committee of the Apo Mosque in Abuja had suspended the Chief Imam, for delivering a sermon considered to be anti-government last Friday.
During the lecture, the Imam advised congregants and all Nigerians to vote with apathy in the upcoming 2023 general elections if the government fails to address the country’s security issues and other challenges.
The lecture, which described the current status of the country, was the potential to arouse public outrage, according to the committee.
The development has sparked debate, notably on social media, with some Nigerians supporting the cleric while others believing the sermon was delivered in protest of President Muhammadu Buhari’s government.
Reacting, Gumi, in a chat with newsmen on Monday, condemned the sermon and described it as “sentiments overriding intellect”.
According to the controversial scholar, the Imam was wrong for trying to discourage Nigerians from participating in the election to vote out bad leaders, saying he is worst than kidnappers.
He said, “It’s a case of sentiments overriding intellect. Calling masses not to vote out incompetent government by massive voting is worst than the few kidnappings and a misplaced judgment”.