The Northern Youths Council of Nigeria, NYCN, has urged Sheikh Mansur Sokoto to refrain from misrepresenting Islam and interfering in politics, saying that Islam represents justice and equity.
Recall that on the heels of Nasarawa State tribunal judgement that sacked Governor ABdullahi Sule and returned David Ombugadu, the Islamic scholar said that Muslims would be doomed if non-Muslims become governors of Plateau, Nasarawa and Taraba states.
Responding, the NYCN’s national president, Isah Abubakar, in a statement on Tuesday, emphasized that Islam represents justice, equity, and love, prioritizing good governance over faith.
Mr Abubakar said: “For those who have been following recent trends on social media, particularly Facebook, you may have encountered a misleading statement by Sheikh Mansur Sokoto, in which he claims that Islam will be endangered if Taraba and Nasarawa states have non-Muslim governors.
“As Muslims and Northerners, we wonder where Sheikh Sokoto derived his teachings, as Islam advocates good governance over faith.
“To us, his post appears to be mere speculation and a personal opinion. We advise Sheikh Sokoto to instead focus on generating ideas to combat the rising issues of kidnapping, banditry, and cattle rustling, which have become rampant in the Northern states governed by Muslim governors.”
The NYCN, therefore, called on Mr Sokoto and other clerics to refrain from inflaming the political environment by interfering in political and judicial matters, saying that such actions could lead to disunity among Nigerians.
The Northern youths added that the cleric’s position could lead to intimidation, and threats to court rulings, ultimately jeopardizing the country’s peace and democracy.
Mr Abubakar also noted that Mr Ombugadu, who is a two-term House of Representatives member, had served his constituency diligently from 2011 to 2019.
“It is on record that he served his constituents without discrimination based on religion, fostering unity among both Christians and Muslims,” Mr Abubakar emphasized.
“Therefore, any attempt to revoke the mandate given to him by the people of Nasarawa State on religious grounds is undemocratic and un-Islamic.
“Similarly, in Taraba State, where the current Governor was duly elected, attempting to influence the judiciary using religious sentiments is unwarranted,” he added.
