Chief Imam of Apo Legislative Quarters Mosque, Shiekh Nuru Khalid, who was suspended by the committee in charge of the worship centre over a sermon considered to be “anti-government” has reacted to his suspension.
In a post written in Arabic, Khalid said “God is the most powerful. He gives (enthrones) and takes away power (dethrones) from whomever He wishes”.
Khalid, popularly known as Digital Imam, said, “Oh God! the master of sovereignty, you give sovereignty to whom you please, and seize sovereignty from whom you please, you honour whom you please and you abase whom you please, all good is in your hands, indeed you have power over all things.”
WITHIN NIGERIA had reported that Shiekh Nuru Khalid was suspended by the Mosque’s steering committee for criticising President Muhammadu Buhari over the last Monday night’s attack on an Abuja-Kaduna train.
While delivering the sermon, Khalid, who is also the Founder of Islamic Research and Da’awah Foundation, said, “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.”
According to BBC Hausa Service, the Chairman of the Mosque Committee, Senator Saidu Muhammed Dansadau, in a statement accused Khalid of “inciting public outrage”, saying his preaching negated the tenets of Islam.
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.”