Council of imams warns against weaponising religion in politics

The Council of Imams and Ulama, Kaduna State, has cautioned religious bodies and leaders against dragging faith into partisan politics, warning that such actions risk deepening divisions in the state.

In a rejoinder signed by its Acting Chairman, Dr. Muhammad Aliyu, who is also the Chief Imam of Sheikh Abubakar Gumi Low-Cost Mosque in Zaria, the council said it will not tolerate the use of falsehood or misrepresentation to score political points.

The clerics were reacting to a recent statement by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Kaduna Chapter, over comments attributed to former Governor Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai on Channels Television.

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According to the Council, the controversial remark about Christians constituting less than 25 percent of Kaduna’s population was made by the interviewer, not El-Rufai.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the remark was made by the interviewer, not by Mallam El-Rufai. It is mischievous and irresponsible for CAN to twist facts and attribute to him a statement he did not make,” the council said.

While acknowledging the religious diversity of Kaduna, the Council stressed that the state belongs to both Muslims and Christians and should not be unsettled by divisive narratives.

“Peaceful coexistence is non-negotiable. Reckless statements and calculated distractions are unacceptable,” the council said.

Source: DailyTrust | Read the Full Story…