By Ibrahim Muhammad
The African Democratic Congress (ADC), Jigawa State Chapter, has called on Islamic clerics to protect their independence, credibility and moral authority by avoiding actions or affiliations that could undermine their integrity.
The call was contained in a statement issued to journalists by the ADC Youth Ambassador, North and Deputy Chairman, Jigawa State, Ambassador Nuraddeen Suleiman Jidawa.
Jidawa criticised the recent endorsement of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for a second term by some Northern Islamic scholars, clerics and preachers, describing the development as unfortunate.
He said the party was particularly concerned about attempts to present political endorsements by religious leaders as though they represented the position of the wider Muslim community.
The ADC also faulted claims contained in a communiqué issued after the meeting of the Northern Muslim intellectuals, particularly the assertion that the Tinubu administration initiated the Kano-Dutse/Kano-Maradi railway project.
According to Jidawa, the project was approved and awarded in 2021 under the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
He challenged the APC-led Federal Government to identify major capital projects initiated and substantially executed by the Tinubu administration in Jigawa State.
The party further disputed claims of significant improvement in security, especially across the North-West, citing recent incidents of kidnapping and terrorist attacks in Kaduna, Sokoto and Zamfara states.
The ADC urged Islamic scholars and clerics to remain politically neutral and resist any influence of money, political pressure or access to power that could compromise their independence and credibility.
It also criticised the removal of the petrol subsidy, arguing that it had contributed to rising transportation, food and other living costs.
The party urged Nigerians to assess the performance of the government based on key issues including security, economic wellbeing, employment, infrastructure, transparency and accountability.
The ADC stressed that it respected the right of individual clerics to make personal political choices, but maintained that such endorsements should not be portrayed as religious verdicts or as representing the views of Nigeria’s entire Muslim community.
