Tobias Sylvester
The Apo Legislative Quarter Central Mosque’s Committee in Abuja has sacked its Chief Imam, Sheikh Nuru Khalid, for not being remorseful after he was suspended for criticizing President Muhammadu Buhari during his sermon.
KanyiDaily had reported that Sheikh Khalid was suspended from his position as the chief Imam in the mosque after his sermon during Friday’s Jummat service.
The cleric had criticized the Buhari-led government for its inadequacy in dealing with the security situation in the country amid a high number of attacks by non-state actors.
Khalid, who noted that Buhari had failed in keeping his promises after being voted twice, asked the electorate not to vote for any politician who cannot guarantee them the safety of lives and properties.
The mosque committee headed by Saidu Muhammed Dansadau sanctioned Khalid, describing his teachings of political apathy as un-Islamic, while urging the electorate to “go to the polls to eliminate those who oppose God, the electorate and the country”.
Reacting to the development on his Twitter page on Sunday, Shiekh Khalid said he was unperturbed by his suspension, stressing that God is the owner of power and dictates whom he gives.
Sheikh Nuru Khalid Sacked
In a letter addressed to the Imam on Monday, the mosque committee said Khalid has been sacked for not showing any sigh of “remorse” despite his suspension.
The letter partly reads, “We regret to inform you that from today, April 4, 2022, you have been disengaged from the services of the mosque. This action is occasioned by the non-remorseful attitude you exhibited following your suspension on April 2.
“Akamakallah, you know better than me by the teaching of Islam, the essence of administering punishment is to correct behavior. Unfortunately, your media reaction to the suspension creates the impression that you are not remorseful, NOT to talk of humbly reflecting on the consequences of your utterances.
“Leadership demands a great sense of responsibility. If our words do more harm than good to the larger interest of the country or the public. We have a responsibility to maximize restraint for the good of the public. It is obvious, however, that you don’t seem keen to modify your Friday sermon to be reflective of the volatility of the security situation in the country.
“You are an influencer; your words carry a lot of weight, and your words can make or mar our situation. Your words can be taken advantage of by mischief makers, those responsible for these security challenges or enemies of the country for their devilish agendas. As leaders of the mosque, we have a sacred responsibility to avoid utterances that are capable of making a bad situation worse. This is our fear and concern.”
“Our decision is informed by our obsession to promote peace in the country. We are not oblivion of the implication of our action in view of the penchant of many Nigerians for a critique of the Government of the day.
“We however believe, no sacrifice is too much for the committee members to disengage you as part of our contribution to ensure peace prevails in our motherland no matter the gravity of the consequences because we are convinced that you have no intention to change the mode of your sermon in the course of Friday prayers,” the leader of the mosque committee, Sa’idu Dansadau said.
KanyiDaily recalls that former speaker, Yakubu Dogara had also lambasted northern leaders for not criticizing Buhari over the growing insecurity in the region just as they did during the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.
