The mosque committee of Apo legislative quarters, Abuja, has explained that it suspended its Chief Imam, Nuru Khalid, over a sermon he delivered on Friday.
In his sermon, the cleric, who lamented the security situation and disregard for human life in the country told his congregation that there is a collective failure from the various leaderships of the country especially from President Muhammadu Buhari.
“Is there nobody to take responsibility? I want to believe that we have all failed,” he said
According to Khalid, “I failed as an imam to teach you that life is sacred; you all failed as parents to teach your children that killing is bad. Our community leaders failed, our politicians failed, governors failed, especially his excellency, the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, you have failed us.”
Berating President Buhari, the cleric recalled the promises the president made while canvassing for votes.
“We have your video telling Nigerians that the military is capable, it has all the requirements to tackle all the insurgency and if you are voted into power, you are going to make sure that happens in a short time.”
He noted that the president had failed in keeping his promises after being voted twice.
“You have been given four years and an addition, yet people are dying like fowls, killing is becoming the norm in Nigeria under your watch Mr President,” he lamented.
Mr Khalid said he is willing to shoulder whatever consequences came with calling out the president’s inability to tackle the security challenges confronting Nigerians.
“If there is no Nigerian to tell you, I will take the responsibility of telling you and I will take the responsibility of the consequences because the lives and properties of Nigerians are above all,” he said.
“Let me tell you, Mr President, under your watch, bandits are demanding, are taxing Nigerians; is that the provision of the constitution of Nigeria. Under the constitution of Nigeria, no one has the right to tax any Nigerian except being authorised by the federal government,” Mr Khalid said.
Khalid, who is also the founder of Islamic Research and Da’awah Foundation, advised Nigerians to vote only for candidates who can guarantee their safety.
“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.
“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.”
Khalid’s sermon came days after the country witnessed a fatal attack on a Kaduna-bound train where at least eight passengers were killed and others abducted.
The Suspension
According to a statement sent to BBC Hausa Service, the chairman of the mosque committee, Saidu Dansadau, said the committee suspended the imam over his sermon that it deemed ‘inciting public outrage’.
“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,” the statement said.
The committee maintained that Mr Khalid’s sermon negated the tenets of Islam.
Daily Trust reported the committee has immediately appointed Malam Mohammad who will deliver Ramadan Tafsir while Malam Abdullahi will be leading Friday prayers.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) have given the federal government a deadline of May 31 to come up with a new national minimum wage for workers.
The ultimatum was given despite the decision of the federal government to increase the salaries of civil servants by 35 percent.
The Federal Government also approved an increase in pension of between 20 percent and 28 percent for pensioners on the defined benefits scheme, with respect to the six consolidated salary structures.
The implementation of the new salary structure was backdated to January 1, 2024.
Labour has since said it wants the sum of ₦615,000 as the new minimum wage.
Speaking during the Workers Day Celebration in Abuja, Joe Ajaero, president of NLC, said they might not guarantee the industrial harmony of the country if the new minimum wage is not implemented.
“The NLC and the TUC have made it clear and emphatically that should the minimum wage negotiation continue and linger till the end of May, we can no longer guarantee industrial harmony in this country,” Ajaero said.
Also speaking, Festus Osifo, TUC president, said the N30,000 current minimum wage is insufficient for Nigerian workers due to the current economic realities.
Osifo implored the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and power distribution companies to immediately reverse the current increase in electricity tariff for Band A customers.
“The NLC and TUC hereby advise NERC and power sector operators to reverse the last increase in electricity tariff within the next one week,” the TUC president said.
The presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, has responded to the allegation that he is inciting people of the south-east against the federal government.
The former governor of Anambra said the allegation is a “baseless distraction” designed to tarnish his character.
He averred that his “focus is on fostering constructive dialogue and inclusivity, rather than engaging in divisive politics”.
Obi said he would not reduce himself to the level of those who wallow in ethnic politics.
“Regarding allegations of incitement against the government, I firmly reject these unfounded accusations aimed at tarnishing my character,” Obi wrote on X.
“My focus is on fostering constructive dialogue and inclusivity, rather than engaging in divisive politics.
“Claims of incitement are baseless distractions. I have always advocated for unity and advancement, refusing to partake in reactionary divisive politics.
“Worse still, I have never and can never descend so low as to base my political aspirations on any sectional or ethnic interest.”
David Umahi, minister of works, on Wednesday accused Obi of inciting people of the south-east against the federal government over the Lagos-Calabar coastal road project.
Speaking during a stakeholders’ meeting in Lagos, Umahi said Obi implemented the demolition of structures for road infrastructure while he was governor of Anambra.
The minister condemned Obi for criticising the federal government over the project, adding that affected property owners are already being compensated.
Obi has repeatedly criticised the federal government for the construction, describing the project as a misplaced priority.
The former Anambra governor said the “insensitive” demolition of structures for the project was “heart-wrenching”.
Recently, the federal government commenced the construction of the 700-kilometre Lagos-Calabar coastal road, which is expected to run through the shoreline of beach resorts in Lagos, while traversing eight other states.
The project has elicited controversy over funding, and the businesses that would be affected during construction.
Responding to Umahi on demolition of structures, Obi said while he was governor, he clearly stated that all structures obstructing existing roads and lacking approval would be removed.
The former Anambra governor challenged anyone to show evidence on whether the “demolished structures on existing roads or ongoing businesses were not encroaching on the road and built without government approval”.
He added that it amounts to false equivalence to compare his actions as governor with the current Lagos-Calabar coastal road project.
Obi said he “never proposed creating a new road that would disrupt existing structures”.
“My actions were strategic, aiming to prioritise the repair and maintenance of existing infrastructure over projects that risked disruption and destruction,” Obi added.
“This approach aimed to safeguard the livelihoods of Nigerians and ensure the efficient use of resources.”
David Umahi, minister of works, says Peter Obi, former governor of Anambra, is inciting people of the south-east against the Federal Government over the Lagos-Calabar coastal road project.
Umahi spoke in Lagos on Wednesday during a stakeholders’ meeting on the road project.
Recently, the federal government commenced the construction of the Lagos-Calabar coastal road, which is expected to run through the shoreline of beach resorts in Lagos, while traversing eight other states.
The project has generated controversy and concerns about funding and the businesses that would be affected during construction.
On Tuesday, Obi, presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 elections, criticised the federal government over the project, describing it as a misplaced priority.
The former Anambra governor said the “insensitive” demolition of structures for the project was “heart-wrenching”.
UMAHI REPLIES OBI
Responding to the comment, Umahi said Obi supported the demolition of structures for road infrastructure while he was the governor of Anambra.
The minister condemned Obi for criticising the Federal Government over the project, adding that affected property owners are already being compensated.
“When you condemn people you bring judgment upon yourself and that is what he has done,” Umahi said.
“I think he is inciting some of the south-east people that are not well informed.
“He is inciting and getting them into trouble and he does not go to fight for them.
“Wisdom is a defence. It gives light to those that practice it. I want our people to have wisdom because I’m involved.”
Umahi added that the federal government did not destroy the facilities of Landmark Beach, noting that only shanties on the right of way were removed.
He said the owners of Landmark Beach were not unfairly treated in the construction of the project.
The minister accused Paul Onwuanibe, chief executive officer (CEO) of Landmark Africa Group, of politicising the issues arising from the project.
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