Nigeria’s Ambassador-designate to South Africa, Femi Fani-Kayode, has described comments by Islamic cleric, Sheikh Yahya Jingir, in support of a Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket in the 2027 election as “highly provocative.”
Fani-Kayode warned that such comments could further deepen religious divisions in the country.
Jingir had, in a video circulating on social media, urged Muslims to support the continued adoption of Muslim-Muslim presidential tickets ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The cleric made the remarks at an event attended by some All Progressives Congress governors, including Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf and Jigawa State Governor Umar Namadi.
Jingir praised President Bola Tinubu for adopting a Muslim-Muslim ticket during the 2023 presidential election, describing himself as a strong supporter of the arrangement.
He also called on Muslims to obtain their Permanent Voter Cards ahead of the 2027 election and urged them to support Muslim-Muslim candidates.
Reacting to the comments in a post on X on Sunday, Fani-Kayode said although he respected Jingir, he disagreed with what he described as “extremist rhetoric.”
“I have immense respect for Sheikh 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 said.
He added that the remarks were “highly provocative” and warned that they could put the country on a “slippery and dangerous slope.”
Fani-Kayode further described Nigeria as a secular and multi-religious country made up of both Christians and Muslims.
“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.
The former Minister of Aviation, however, said his support for a Muslim-Muslim ticket in 2027 was not based on the religious identities of the candidates but on their competence and ability to deliver.
According to him, Nigeria could also have a Christian-Christian presidential ticket in the future if the candidates possess the required qualities.
Fani-Kayode urged Nigerians not to allow religious differences to divide the country, stressing that national unity should remain a priority ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“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 added.
