Fani-Kayode responds to cleric's call for Muslim-Muslim ticket

Islamic cleric, Sheikh Yahya Jingir, has stirred up discussion by calling for more Muslim-Muslim presidential tickets ahead of the 2027 elections.

Jingir made this statement at an event attended by some All Progressives Congress governors, including Abba Yusuf from Kano and Umar Namadi from Jigawa State. This video became popular on Sunday.

The cleric praised President Bola Tinubu for supporting the Muslim-Muslim ticket during the 2023 presidential election. He said he remains a strong supporter of this idea.

"Special thanks to my (political) hero, Bola Tinubu who raised the flag of this political ideology, describing it as a purely Muslim-Muslim coalition," Jingir said.

"I am among the staunch advocates of the Muslim-Muslim ticket, and I call on you to come together for Muslim-Muslim ticket," he added.

Jingir recognized that some Christians and other religious groups oppose this ticket. But he questioned if his support for it is wrong.

"I am aware that some are embittered by this word. However, are there no Christians alike? Are there no Jews? Are there no traditionalists? Have I done anything wrong by merely campaigning for a Muslim-Muslim ticket?" he said.

"Have I stopped the Christians from their own slogans? Have I stopped traditionalists from a similar campaign?"

The cleric repeated his stance, saying, "But as a Muslim, I repeat it, Muslim-Muslim! No going back on this."

When responding to claims that Nigeria is a democracy with people of different religions, Jingir questioned if those arguing this represented non-Muslims.

"Some would say ‘it’s a democracy and there are people who are not Muslims,’ are you their spokesperson?" he asked.

"But we pray and observe fasting, and it’s said that the majority carries the votes," he added.

Jingir also encouraged everyone at the event to prepare for the elections by getting their Permanent Voter Cards.

"I urge all of us here to go and get our voters’ cards ready. Let’s show the infidels their limit, who claim they are more populous than us in Nigeria. They are lying!" he said.

He blamed the past electoral losses of those against the Muslim-Muslim ticket on his support for it.

"If it wasn’t for my stance on a Muslim-Muslim ticket, somebody would have claimed they are more populous than us. But by the grace of Allah, we defeated them so ignominiously that they did not even make it to the second place in the polls, did they? They came third after all."

Jingir then declared his support for Muslim-Muslim candidates and urged Muslims to do the same.

"Therefore my vote is for a Muslim-Muslim candidate! What about you, the Muslim umma?"

These comments have caught attention, with critics on social media calling the cleric's words divisive and unsuitable for Nigeria’s diverse society.

In response, Nigeria’s Ambassador-designate to South Africa, Femi Fani-Kayode, said Jingir’s comments were "highly provocative" and warned against what he called extremist language.

"I have immense respect for Sheik Jingir but I am constrained to point out that the extremist rhetoric he has indulged in here is most unhelpful and neither is it true," Fani-Kayode wrote on X on Sunday.

"Worse of all is the fact that it is highly provocative. Kindly take note that it is a very slippery and dangerous slope to take and is best avoided."

He mentioned that Nigeria is not just a Muslim or Christian country. He described it as a secular and multi-religious nation.

"Nigeria is NOT a Muslim country and neither is she a Christian country. She is a SECULAR and MULTI-RELIGIOUS state comprising of BOTH Christians and Muslims in equal numbers and that is our strength," he said.

Fani-Kayode explained that his support for a Muslim-Muslim ticket in 2027 is based on the candidates' abilities, not their religion.

"We are supporting a Muslim/Muslim ticket for 2027, as we did in 2023, only because of the calibre, ability, sincerity of purpose, character, utility and electoral strength of our Presidential and Vice Presidential candidates and their ability to deliver and not because they are Muslims," he said.

He added that Nigeria could have a Christian-Christian ticket in the future. He urged Nigerians to focus on issues and candidates rather than religion.

"We must not allow this issue to divide our ranks. We are NIGERIANS before being Christian or Muslim and we must not only stand as ONE but also go to the polls as ONE," he said.