Shelve your 2027 re-election bid now, no fewer than 1,000 Islamic clerics have told Nigeria’s president, Bola Tinubu.
They made the demand after rising from a national conference in Kano, which they said was“An Assessment of the State of the Nation under President Tinubu and the 2027 General Elections,”
Citing the state of insecurity resulting in killings, kidnappings and other acts of terrorism across the country, particularly in the North-West, the Northern Islamic clerics said what was expected of the president was to drop his ambition for re-election.
They also urged the president to refrain from contesting the 2027 election, and also asked the citizens to reject his candidacy should he fail to heed their call.
In their communique, they cited the state of the economy, migration of skilled professionals from the country, the role of religious scholars in standing for truth and the 2027 general elections, as issues they discussed.
They said they reviewed such issues as the removal of the fuel subsidy, changes to the naira exchange-rate system, increases in electricity tariffs and tax reforms, and thus “unanimously agreed that it would be inappropriate to re-elect this government in the forthcoming 2027 general elections if it does not change its harmful economic policies.”
“It is unfortunate that the government has continued to insist on pursuing these policies, which are increasing hardship among the people, rather than reviewing and correcting them.
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“The government prioritised the growth of its revenue at a time when the rising cost of living and unemployment are threatening the lives and well-being of citizens,” they said.
The Islamic clerics faulted the government’s economic policies, which they said had deepened the hardship of ordinary Nigerians.
The conference was organised by the clerics under the umbrella of “Ko Da Naka”, an organisation which says it is dedicated to “the Struggle to Promote Good Governance and Community Development”, in collaboration with AFAQ Educational Foundation.
A long list of Islamic clerics presented papers at the conference.
They included Dr Abdulmuɗɗalib Ahmad Giɗaɗo, Prof. Muhd Muslim Ibrahim, Sheikh Kabir Bashir Abdulhamid, Dr Aminu Isma’il Sagagi, Dr Najibullah Abdallah Nuhu and Sheikh Abdurrazaq Uba Musa.
Others were Sheikh Musa Muhd Ɗan Kwano, Barr. El-Zubair, Dr Yahuza Getso, Prof. Ibrahim Siraj Adhama, Dr Umar Dokaji and Sheikh Muhd Sani Khamis (Abu Haisam).
They urged the government to improve salaries, working conditions and professional development, and create opportunities that would encourage skilled Nigerians abroad to return home.
The clerics urged religious scholars to speak truth to power, defend justice and refuse to become political instruments. According to them, scholars should praise what is good and criticise what is wrong, regardless of the party, tribe or religion of the person in power.
“Nigerians should not be asked to endure another term of the same policies while families struggle to meet basic needs and the promised relief remains out of reach,” the communiqué said.
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