Abuja Chief Imam, Shiekh Nuru Khalid, suspended for ‘Criticizing’ President Buhari after Abuja-Kaduna train attack

The mosque committee of Apo legislative quarters, Abuja, has suspended its Chief Imam, Sheikh Nuru Khalid, over a sermon he delivered on Friday, April 1.

During his sermon, Sheikh Khalid spoke about the government’s failure to handle insecurity in the country.

He also spoke about the President’s failure to visit Kaduna after the terror attack and added that Buhari condemning the attack wasn’t enough.

He argued that the President was in Kaduna for campaign but refused to visit the state after the bomb attack.

He said: “Everyone condemned the incident, except the bandits. So, condemnation is not enough. The President should visit the state to sympathise with the victims.

“The President has been to Kaduna for campaigns but couldn’t go to the state on a sympathy visit.”

He then suggested a measure that the electorate should devise should the authorities fail to protect their lives.

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.”

Following his sermon, Sheikh Khalid was suspended.

Chairman of the mosque steering committee, Sai’du Muhammed Dansadau said that the Imam was sacked for an inciting sermon on April 1.

He explained that the Imam had preached against exercising civic duty by advising voters to give conditions to political leaders before electing them.

Dansadau added that the sermon was against Islamic tenets.

Announcing Sheikh Khalid’s suspension, Senator Saidu Muhammed Dansadau said in a statement: “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 now appointed Malam Mohammad who will deliver Ramadan Tafsir while Malam Abdullahi will be leading Friday prayers.