Over 100 Imams and some Islamic sect leaders on Thursday night paid a solidarity visit to a former governor of Kano State, Rabiu Kwankwaso, over his criticism against unscrupulous clerics meddling in political affairs.
In a viral audio clip, Mr Kwankwaso said he had the dossier of the amoral clerics, who mainly express their piety by keeping beard and wearing undersized trousers.
This however did no go down well with some of Izala clerics such as Sheikh Abdallah Pakistan and Giro Argungu, known for keeping beard and wearing undersized trousers.
The clerics said the former governor had mocked a tradition of the Holy Prophet.
But in a counter move to tackle the aggrieved clerics, over 100 clerics stormed Mr Kwankwaso’s Kano residence to express their support to him.
The clerics said Mr Kwankwaso’s remarks were deliberately twisted to incite their followers against him.
According to them, the former governor was right to make allusion to some clerics who hide under the guise of “beard” to commit grievous sins and support tyranny and corruption.
They argued that if Mr Kwankwaso was against Islam, he would not have implemented Shariah, Hisbah, built classrooms at Islamic schools and organise mass wedding of widows and divorcees in the state.
Prominent religious leaders in the delegation include Sheikh Aminu Daurawa, Sheikh Sani Ashir, Sheikh Mallam Nazifi, Sheikh Abubakar Kandahar and Sheikh Gwani Sanusi.
Others are Sheikh Alkali Almustapha, Sheikh Bazallahi Kabara, Sheikh Buba Jada, Sheikh Ismaila Mangu, Sheikh Mallam Kabiru, among others.
