Abuja Chief Imam, Sheikh Nuru Khalid Suspended For Criticizing President Buhari [Video]

Chief Imam of Apo Legislative Quarters Mosque, Sheikh Nuru Khalid has been suspended for criticizing President Muhammadu Buhari during his sermon on Friday.

Sheikh Nuru Khalid Tackles Buhari Over Insecurity

Khalid, who is also the Founder of Islamic Research and Da’awah Foundation, in the sermon on Friday, criticized the Buhari-led government for its failure to stop insecurity in the country.

In a video circulating on social media, Sheikh Khalid said Buhari has failed Nigerians by not fulfilling his promise to end banditry and insurgency.

The cleric who was reacting to the recent attack on Abuja-Kaduna Train said, “Is there nobody to take responsibility? I want to believe that we have all failed. I failed as an Imam to teach you that life is sacred. You all failed as parents to teach your children that killing is bad.

“Our Community leaders failed. Our politicians failed. Governors failed, especially his Excellency the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. You have failed us.

“We have your video telling us that the military is capable. It has all the requirements to tackle the insurgency. And if you are voted into power, you are going to make sure this happens in a short time.

“You were given four years and an addition, yet people are dying like fowls. Killing is becoming the norm in Nigeria under your watch Mr President.

“Is there no Nigerian to tell you? I will take the responsibility of telling you and I will take the responsibility of the consequences because the lives and properties of Nigerians is(sic) above all.

“Let me tell Mr President, under your watch bandits are demanding, are taxing Nigerians. Is that the provision of the constitution of Nigeria? Under the constitution, no one has a right to tax Nigerians except authorised by the Federal Government.”

He added, “Nigerian masses should resort to only one term which is – protect our lives, we will come out to vote; let us be killed, we will not come out to vote, since it’s only elections that you people know.

“We need prayers. We need supplication. This is very important at a time when Nigeria is facing a very serious challenge. Everything is not working well. People are dying. Our roads are not secured.

“Most part of the country is not secured. The government is always telling us that they are doing their best. But we deserve more than that best as citizens because we want a secured Nigeria.

“What you are telling us is that your concern is about the 2023 elections. And what I am telling the citizens is to send a message that we are going to vote under one condition.

“Nigerian masses should resort to only one term which is – protect our lives, we will come out to vote; let us be killed, we will not come out to vote, since it’s the only language you understand, we are going to speak it.

“Our lives are important to us. We want to live. Our wealth and dignity are is important as well. You must do something to secure our lives and make our security workable. We cannot afford to be moving like this. People attacking our trains, killing our people as if there is no government in this country.

“They (bandits) can gather and disseminate intelligence information as if they are a government of their own while our government cannot share information and stop the rubbish on our ways.”

Sheikh Nuru Khalid Suspended Over His Sermon

In a statement sent to BBC Hausa Service, the chairman of the mosque committee, Senator Saidu Muhammed Dansadau, said the imam was suspended over his sermon.

The committee accused Khalid of “inciting public outrage”, saying his preachings negated the tenets of Islam by advising voters to give conditions to political leaders before electing them.

The statement read in part, “I am informing you that you have been suspended from leading prayers in the Apo Legislative Quarters Mosque from today being April 2nd, 2022 until further notice.

“The decision was taken out of the inciting Friday sermon you delivered on April 1st, 2022; where you advised people not to vote come 2023 general elections unless politicians respond to some critical questions.

“You should have advised them to vote out those that transgress the Almighty and breach people’s social contract as well as the state.”

Watch the sermon below:

pic.twitter.com/aFgFyub1zC

— Famous  (@Famous_Anfield) April 2, 2022

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.