Sheikh Nuru Khalid, the suspended chief Imam of Apo Legislative Quarters Mosque, has eventually said ‘only God dethrones’ a few hours after his suspension.
He said God is the most powerful. He gives and takes away power from whomever he wishes. Almost the same statement that was used by Sanusi Lamido II when he was dethroned as the Emir of Kano.
On Friday, the mosque committee of Apo legislative quarters, Abuja, suspended Khalid, over a sermon he delivered.
The Imam during the sermon blamed the government for its negligence to curb the escalating insecurity and killings in the country.
In the sermon, the imam told the electorate not to vote for any politician who cannot ensure the safety of lives and property.
He 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,” he added.
“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 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.”
In a statement sent to BBC Hausa Service, the chairman of the mosque committee, Senator Saidu Muhammed Dansadau, said the imam was suspended over his sermon.
The statement accused Khalid of “inciting public outrage”, saying his preachings 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.”
The committee has immediately appointed Malam Mohammad who will deliver Ramadan Tafsir while Malam Abdullahi will be leading Friday prayers.
However, there’s no reaction from the suspended imam.
Sheikh Khalid has been an avid critic of the government over the escalation of insecurity in Nigeria.
His latest sermon is coming to a couple of days following terrorists’ ravaging attack on a Kaduna-bound train where yet-to-be-confirmed passengers were killed and others kidnaped.
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