Human rights lawyer and activist, Deji Adeyanju, has condemned remarks attributed to Sheikh Yahya Jingir, describing them as divisive rhetoric capable of fuelling religious tension and threatening Nigeria’s unity.
Adeyanju, in a statement, said Nigeria remained a plural society whose Constitution recognises and protects the rights of citizens to practise different religions.
He urged religious leaders to recognise the diversity of the country and use their influence to promote peace, tolerance and national unity rather than deepen divisions between Christians and Muslims.
‘I condemn the recent rhetoric of Sheikh Yahya Jingir as divisive and capable of fuelling religious tension,’ Adeyanju said.
‘Religious leaders should respect Nigeria’s plurality and use their influence to promote peace and unity rather than sowing discord between Christians and Muslims.’
The lawyer also questioned whether the Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket had translated into improved living conditions for Nigerians, arguing that leadership should be assessed based on its impact on citizens rather than religious identity.
‘Has the Muslim-Muslim ticket put food on the tables of Nigerians, solved insecurity, unemployment, inflation, or strengthened the Nigerian passport and Nigeria’s standing in the world?’ he asked.
Adeyanju said Nigerians should move beyond religious considerations when assessing political leadership, stressing that the wellbeing and security of citizens should remain the priority.
‘We must look beyond religion and judge leadership by its impact on our lives as Nigerians,’ he said.
He warned that rhetoric portraying one faith as superior or hostile to another could worsen existing divisions and fuel agitations across the country.
‘Any rhetoric that pits one faith against another is one that only deepens our divisions and fuels agitations across the country,’ he said.
Adeyanju further called on clerics and politicians to refrain from provocative statements capable of inciting citizens, urging them to respect Nigeria’s religious, cultural and ethnic diversity.
‘Clerics and politicians must stop provoking law-abiding citizens and learn to respect our different religions, cultures and ethnicities. Nigeria belongs to all of us,’ he said.