Sheikh Jingir’s Anti-Christian remarks has sparked outrage as Northern Governors face criticism.
NewsOnline Nigeria reports that four northern governors have faced criticism over their reported reactions to controversial remarks by Islamic cleric Sheikh Sani Yahaya Jingir, who allegedly described Christians as “infidels” and suggested that Nigeria belonged to Muslims.
The controversy followed a Kano State Government-sponsored mass wedding for 1,500 couples held at the weekend.
Sheikh Jingir, speaking at the event, said he did not regret supporting the All Progressives Congress’ Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket in the 2023 general election.
He argued that the decision reflected the numerical strength of Muslims in Nigeria and reportedly suggested that Muslims were taking control of the country.
A video from the ceremony, which has circulated widely on social media, showed the governors of Kano, Jigawa, Zamfara and Katsina states at the event.
They are Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano, Umar Namadi of Jigawa, Dauda Lawal of Zamfara and Dikko Umar Radda of Katsina.
Footage from the event appeared to show some officials applauding at intervals during the cleric’s address. However, the video alone does not conclusively establish that every governor present endorsed each of the statements attributed to Jingir.
The apparent reaction nevertheless attracted condemnation from several Nigerians, including former Minister of Aviation Femi Fani-Kayode and Plateau-based cleric Prophet Isa El-Buba.
Fani-Kayode said he was more troubled by Kano Governor Yusuf’s reported reaction than by the cleric’s remarks.
“There is only one thing worse and that saddened me more than what he said, and that is to have seen my friend and brother, the Governor of Kano State, cheering him on and celebrating it,” he said in a statement on Tuesday.
“We will not keep quiet and watch our faith being dragged all over the floor because of politics.”
El-Buba, General Overseer of El-Buba Outreach Ministries, also condemned the remarks and questioned why political leaders appeared to applaud the cleric.
In a video circulating online, El-Buba said northern leaders should focus on insecurity, banditry, drug abuse and other social problems confronting the region rather than encouraging religious division.
“I saw the governors cheering him,” he said, before questioning whether northern leaders were sufficiently concerned about banditry and other criminal activities affecting the region.
Social media commentator Dan Masani also described the incident as troubling.
“The Sheikh preaching hate is not my concern; the tragedy with this video is that three state governors—Kano, Katsina and Jigawa—were all cheering and in agreement with the Sheikh,” he wrote on X.
His claim that the governors agreed with the cleric has not been independently established.
The Kano mass wedding, coordinated by the state’s Hisbah Board, was organised to assist widows, divorcees and other residents who could not afford the cost of marriage.
The programme provided financial and household support to participating couples as part of the state government’s social welfare initiative.
None of the four governors had publicly clarified their reactions to Jingir’s remarks at the time of filing this report.
The controversy has renewed calls for political and religious leaders to avoid rhetoric capable of deepening tension in Nigeria’s religiously diverse society.
Nigeria’s Constitution guarantees freedom of religion and does not confer ownership of the country on adherents of any faith.
