Sheikh Yahaya Jingir’s ‘show infidels their limit’ comment is incitement, hate speech, says Dalung, Abati, others
Former Sports Minister, Solomon Dalung, has condemned remarks attributed to Sheikh Yahaya Jingir urging Muslims to continue backing the Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket as proof of numerical dominance over Christians in Nigeria.
In a statement posted on his Facebook page, Dalung takes issue with comments made by the cleric, who urged Muslims to “show infidels their limit” and framed support for the ticket as evidence that Muslims outnumber Christians in the country.
Dalung describes the framing as dangerous, arguing that a Muslim-Muslim ticket does not address the practical needs of citizens. He states that such an arrangement does not guarantee jobs, secure kidnapped farmers, improve schools, reduce the cost of fuel, food, or medicine, or fix roads and electricity supply.
He further questions the use of the term “infidels,” asking who the cleric considers to fall under that description — whether fellow citizens, taxpayers, Christians who have voted for Muslim candidates, or Muslims opposed to religion-based politics.
According to Dalung, Nigeria is not a battleground for religious supremacy between faiths, and if a Muslim-Muslim ticket is to be defended, it should be on the basis of competence, justice, security, and good governance, not religious arithmetic.
He insists that the country belongs to Muslims, Christians, and Nigerians of no religious affiliation alike, adding that no citizen should be threatened over their faith.
Arise News anchor Reuben Abati particularly called for the arrest of Sheikh Jingir for allegedly inciting the public. He said Nigerian law categorises such speech as incitement, and that Jingir ought to have been arrested on the spot since policemen were at the venue. He also expressed disappointment that two governors were at the venue and reportedly failed to issue a disclaimer distancing themselves from Jingir’s position.
Abati’s colleague, Ayo Mario-Ese, described Sheikh Jingir’s speech as hateful and worthy of condemnation from well-meaning Nigerians.
