Strong condemnation is trailing the comments by Sheikh Yahya Jingir, an Islamic cleric, who described Christians as “infidels” at a gathering in Kano attended by three governors, including Governors Abba Yusuf of Kano and Umar Namadi of Jigawa States.
In a video from the event in Kano, the cleric defended President Bola Tinubu’s Muslim-Muslim ticket ahead of 2027, saying Muslims should not apologise for supporting candidates of their faith. He described Christians as “infidels” and urged Muslims to leverage their numerical strength in politics.
The remarks, which have circulated widely on social media, have drawn condemnation from Nigerians who described the comments as divisive and capable of aggravating religious tensions in the country.
But speaking on Channels Television’s “Morning Brief” on Monday, both the Chairman of the Northern Christian Association, NCA, Rev. Joseph Hayab, and a Muslim scholar, Prof. Ahmad Suleiman, condemned the comment by Jingir, describing it as derogatory against Christians.
Hayab said the comments by Jingir have brought to the open what Christians in Northern Nigeria have experienced for decades, maintaining that the remarks have effectively “ended the pretence” around issues of persecution, marginalisation and religious dominance in the country.
He said his concern was not just the words, but that they were made before political leaders who did not condemn them. “There is always a day when you will no longer pretend. We have been living in pretence in Nigeria, lying to ourselves that we are together,” he said.
“The man said it in the presence of three governors, and they were all smiling. An action that should have been rebuked instantly,” he added.
Referencing past debates on Christian persecution, Hayab added: “Some months ago, people said ‘no, that is not true.’ Today, Nigerians do not need to ask another question unless you want to pretend. The pretence has ended. We can see it clearly. We can hear it clearly.”
He also cited another viral video where a speaker allegedly said Christians would be removed from government if he became governor of Katsina, describing it as part of a troubling pattern.
Hayab challenged the governors present, the Federal Government, and political actors being promoted by the cleric to state their positions publicly.
“We are waiting to see the reaction of those governors. We will see the reaction of the Federal Government. We will see the reaction of those candidates,” he said.
While insisting that Jingir’s description of Christians as “infidels” has no basis in Islam, Prof. Suleiman said, “The Quran does not allow the reference to the people of the Book (Christians) as infidels….The use of the word “infidels” I find it totally offensive.”
He went on to quote relevant sections of the Quran and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which he said forbid discrimination against people of other faiths.
