Islamic cleric and leader of the Izala Scholars Council, Sheikh Sani Yahaya Jingir, has defended his recent comments on the Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket, saying he has no regrets over his position.
Jingir, who spoke in an interview with the BBC, said his support for the arrangement was based on his convictions as a Muslim and was not aimed at campaigning for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The cleric said criticism of his position would not deter him from continuing to encourage Muslims to support a Muslim-Muslim ticket.
“I have no regrets. I will continue to support and encourage the Muslim-Muslim ticket. What they say will not stop me. They started it; at a point, we suffered in their hands,” he alleged.
Jingir had earlier made the controversial remarks during a mass wedding organised by the Kano State Government for 1,500 couples.
At the event, he urged Muslims to prepare their votes and support the Muslim-Muslim ticket, saying the outcome would demonstrate the numerical strength of Muslims in Nigeria.
The cleric also defended his right to advocate a political arrangement that aligns with his religious convictions, arguing that his position should not be interpreted as an endorsement of any particular political candidate.
Jingir further questioned claims that Christians or other religious groups outnumber Muslims in Nigeria, maintaining his position on the religious composition of the country.
His description of Christians as “infidels” and his comments on Muslim political dominance have continued to attract reactions across the country.
While critics have described the remarks as divisive, supporters of the cleric have maintained that he has the right to express his religious and political views.
Jingir, however, has remained firm, insisting that neither criticism nor public reactions would make him withdraw his support for the Muslim-Muslim ticket.
