Northen groups denounce dangerous sermons, Islamic clergy attacking Wike

The Democratic Defence Initiative’s Northern Caucus has denounced what it called an unnecessary verbal attack by some clergymen against Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Barrister Nyesom Wike.

The Northern Caucus delegate, Abdulrasheed Fate, made the statement during a news conference on Monday at the NUJ Secretariat in Bauchi, claiming that the decision had been made during a meeting with the organization’s National Executive Council.

“The 14-minute video, cast aspersions on both Muslims and Christians who campaigned and voted for the Muslim-Muslim ticket in the 2023 election that brought about the Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration,” the group said.

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“What’s most concerning is the divisive statement about the nation’s security, ‘It is dangerous to leave national security in the hands of the Southerners.’” This is inappropriate in a democratic country like Nigeria.

The northern contingent stated that Wike was well-known for peace and development while serving as governor of Rivers State.
“This prompted the President to call him to replicate the same feat in the FCT,” the group claimed.

He was successful in suppressing cultism, lawlessness, and brigandage in Rivers State.His records are comprehensive.It is also known that Nigeria and Israel have diplomatic ties and an economic alliance that will be extremely beneficial to Nigeria.

Such harmful preaching would simply incite needless animosity and, if poorly controlled, might escalate into something more dangerous.

Consequently, we join the millions of well-meaning Nigerians in denouncing that statement.Every nation or religion is free to hold a stake in our secular nation, so long as it doesn’t endanger our peace and security.

“Recent comments made by certain of our Northern religious elites regarding the status of the Minister of the FCT, suggesting that the position should belong to just one religion and asking for the Minister’s dismissal, are wholly inappropriate.

The position of Minister of the Federal Capital Territory belongs to any qualified Nigerian, regardless of tribe or religion, as the appointing order (President) may judge suitable to nominate. Nigeria is a democratic republic with each Nigerian having same rights as the other.Therefore, we vehemently condemn these anti-national statements that have the potential to sow the seeds of division among Nigerians who value peace.

Under the leadership of the Muslim President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Nigeria is undergoing a healing process. One of the tenets of Islam is that justice and good governance be delivered to the Nigerian public, hence it is crucial that Muslim clerics assist his administration in this endeavour.

“To get through these trying times, this is the time for every Nigerian to embrace one another. Rumor-mongering should be avoided because it has the potential to ignite a fire in our beloved country. Recently, some unpatriotic individuals claimed on social media that FCT Minister Barr Nyesom Wike had finalised plans to destroy a portion of the Abuja Central Mosque. This claim was later refuted by the Abuja Central Mosque Authority. This is regrettable and strongly unacceptable.

“The Federal Capital Territory’s Minister, Barr Wike, works diligently to restore the Federal Capital City to a thriving state that we can all be proud of. Therefore, we should motivate them to keep up the good work, which will ultimately benefit all Nigerians.
The group urged Nigerians to ignore any criticism of the FCT Minister, who it claimed was “busy bringing both religions together for a better Nigeria.”

The group contends that Nigerians must not permit a select few to undermine the administration that the majority of Nigerians supported.

“Already, several changes are being implemented to provide Nigerians the best. Let’s band together, then, to defend President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s God-given mandate and ask God to further strengthen our bonds. Nigeria is our shared property, and the preservation of her unity should never be exchanged for any kind of selfish benefit.