The Chairman of the Northern Christian Association, Rev. Joseph Hayab, has faulted Islamic cleric, Sheikh Sani Yahaya Jingir, over his support for a Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Hayab said President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima were not elected by Muslims alone in the 2023 presidential election, noting that the ticket also received significant support from Christian-majority states and communities.
Speaking on Channels Television on Monday, Hayab was reacting to a viral video in which Jingir urged Muslims to support Muslim candidates and use their numerical strength to pursue their political interests.
The cleric had also described Christians as “infidels” while calling on Muslims to unite behind a Muslim-Muslim ticket in 2027.
Reacting, Hayab said the comments were unacceptable and could further deepen religious divisions in the country.
He said, “Will you tell me that the current Muslim-Muslim ticket that you claim to have put was only elected by Muslims? No, sir. I can count states that are mostly Christian. The man won in those states.”
The NCA chairman said Christians had previously expressed concerns about the Muslim-Muslim ticket, not because they opposed Muslims participating in politics, but because they wanted fairness and inclusiveness in governance.
“We only wanted understanding and togetherness, as enshrined in our Constitution,” he said.
Hayab also condemned Jingir’s description of Christians as “infidels”, saying no Nigerian should demean another citizen because of religious differences.
“If you respect me, you do not come out publicly and make such a derogatory statement against me, against my faith, just for politics. It is no longer politics. It is the reality that has been going on on the ground,” he said.
He said Jingir’s remarks had exposed what many Christians in Northern Nigeria had experienced over the years, including allegations of persecution, marginalisation and religious dominance.
Hayab expressed concern that the comments were made in the presence of political leaders who, according to him, did not immediately condemn the remarks.
He said Nigerians were now waiting to hear the positions of the governors present at the event, the Federal Government and politicians being promoted by the cleric.
“We are waiting to see the reaction of those governors. Whatever stopped them from reacting that day is another different thing. We are going to see what they are going to say,” he said.
Hayab maintained that the controversy was not solely about Muslims supporting Muslim candidates but about the use of inflammatory language against people of other faiths.
He argued that Nigeria had previously had political candidates from the same religious background without generating the level of tension currently surrounding the issue.
According to him, the focus should be on the competence, character and policies of political candidates rather than religious identity.
Despite the controversy, Hayab said Christian leaders would continue to engage Muslims and other religious groups in dialogue.
“We will not stop the dialogue. We will talk with honest people and clerics. We will talk with people who understand things rightly,” he said.
He, however, called on the government to act against individuals whose statements could worsen religious tensions in the country.
“Nigeria needs unity. Nigeria needs togetherness,” he added.
The NCA chairman also renewed his call for religion to be captured in Nigeria’s national census, arguing that reliable demographic data could help address competing claims about religious population and dominance.
He further urged political and religious leaders to avoid divisive rhetoric, particularly as the country approaches the 2027 general elections.
Hayab warned that Nigerians were already facing economic hardship and insecurity and should not be further divided by religious politics.
“Nigerians are suffering from hunger. There is insecurity in Nigeria. Our people are not reminding themselves to do what is right to secure Nigeria and to contribute to nation building,” he said.
