By Uche Amunike
The suspended Chief Imam of Apo Legislative Quarters Mosque, Imam Nuru Khalid, who was recently suspended by the committee in charge of the mosque, Friday, for preaching a sermon tagged ‘anti-government’, has broken his silence.
Shortly after his suspension was announced, Khalid who is popularly called ‘digital imam’ made a post on social media in Arabic saying, ‘God is the most powerful. He gives (enthrones) and takes away power (dethrones) from whomever he wishes’.
His words: ‘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’.
He further pleaded with Nigerians to pray ceaselessly for the country and its leaders.
Recall that during prayers at the mosque on Friday April 1, 2022 Sheikh Nuru Khalid, who is also the founder of Islamic Research and Da’awah Foundation, criticized the government of Mohammadu Buhari for failing to fight insecurity in the country.
During his sermon, he pointedly told Nigerians not to vote for any politician who is unable to guarantee the safety of life and property of the citizenry.
Hear him: ‘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’.
He maintained that it was unacceptable that bandits could gather and disseminate intelligence information as though they were a government of their own, while the Nigerian government found it difficult to share information and stop the mess on our highways.
It was this preaching that formed the decision of the mosque committee to suspend Imam Nuru Khalid for inciting public outrage and ‘negating the tenets of Islam’ by advising Nigerians not to vote in 2023 except politicians responded to some critical questions.
Meanwhile, the former Senator representing Kaduna Central district and socio-political activist, Shehu Sani has condemned the suspension of Imam Nuru Khalid, describing it as unconscionable. He maintained that the cleric’s criticism of the government reflects the views of a majority of Nigerians, while stressing that his sermon spoke truth to power at the right time. He urged the mosque committee to reverse his suspension.
