Chief Imam of Apo Legislative Quarters Mosque, Shiekh Nuru Khalid, who was suspended over a sermon considered to be “anti-government” has broken his silence.
Khalid, popularly known as Digital Imam, in a post written in Arabic, said “God is the most powerful. He gives (enthrones) and takes away power (dethrones) from whomever He wishes”.
The Imam said this a few hours after reports that he had been suspended as the Chief Imam of Apo Legislative Quarters Mosque by the committee in charge of the worship centre.
The message was similar to the content of the letter written by Sanusi Lamido II when he was dethroned as the Emir of Kano.
The Imam also urged Nigerians not to relent in praying for Nigeria and its leaders.
He said, “Oh God! the master of sovereignty, you give sovereignty to whom you please, and seize sovereignty from whom you please, you honour whom you please and you abase whom you please, all good is in your hands, indeed you have power over all things.”
The mosque committee of Apo legislative quarters, Abuja, had suspended Khalid over a sermon he delivered on Friday, April 1.
Khalid, who is also the Founder of Islamic Research and Da’awah Foundation, in the sermon, criticised the government for its failure to stop insecurity in the country.
The Imam specifically told the electorate not to vote for any politician who cannot guarantee them the safety of lives and properties.
While delivering the sermon, 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.
“We need prayers. We need supplication. This is very important at a time when Nigeria is facing a very serious challenge. Everything is not working well. People are dying. Our roads are not secured.
“Most part of the country is not secured. The government is always telling us that they are doing their best. But we deserve more than that best as citizens because we want a secured Nigeria.
“What you are telling us is that your concern is about the 2023 elections. And what I am telling the citizens is to send a message that we are going to vote under one condition. 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 the only language you understand, we are going to speak it.
“Our lives are important to us. We want to live. Our wealth and dignity are is important as well. You must do something to secure our lives and make our security workable. We cannot afford to be moving like this. People attacking our trains, killing our people as if there is no government in this country.
“They (bandits) can gather and disseminate intelligence information as if they are a government of their own while our government cannot share information and stop the rubbish on our ways.”
In a statement sent to BBC Hausa Service, the chairman of the mosque committee, Senator Saidu Muhammed Dansadau, said the imam was suspended over his sermon.
The statement accused Khalid of “inciting public outrage”, saying his preachings negated the tenets of Islam.
The statement read in part, “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.”
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1 Comment
That the steering committee of the Apo Mosque in Abuja could suspend Sheikh Nuru Khalid for the sermon he delivered at the Friday Jumat Service is a total violation of the human rights of the learned Sheikh and an attack on the freedom of expression in the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Clergymen of any religion hold their offices at the mercy of Almighty God, and they are in office to teach and admonish us, the congregation or the jamal al-Mumin in the paths of righteousness without fear or favor. Members of the clergy including our Imams who do not teach us in the right way or mislead us would be subject to the wrath of God which is more than ten times the punishment that will be visited on the congregation or the jamal al-Mumin! I am not a Muslim, but I have Muslim brethren (including sisters) and children, and I cannot sit idly by for my children or brethren not to receive solid teachings from the Masjids as required by the Prophet. Nigeria is a free country where every person has freedom of religion, expression and association. I applaud the Magnificent Sheikh Nuru ibn Khalid for speaking whatever almighty Allah put in his mouth to say last Friday. Hear the noble servant of Allah Nuru Khalid admonishing the jamal al-Mumin, “We shall pray but we have to …… that our lives are important and we as citizens should be secured on our roads, our homes and our places of work”. May Almighty Allah continue to increase the wisdom granted to our Sheikh and may He keep him safe and secure.
I am now calling on the steering committee of the Apo Mosque in Abuja to immediately rescind the suspension of the noble servant of Allahu such that Sheikh Nuru Khalid will be in his pulpit on Friday 8th April 2022 otherwise, we will call on all Nigerians wherever they are to stand up to defend the freedom of expression and the rights of Sheikh Nuru Khalid to perform his office. Clergymen are entitled to their opinion and speech and cannot be restrained or punished for performing their office according as they are lead. If anybody has issues with the sermon that clergymen preach, they should approach a competent court of law to show how they are injured by the speech or opinion expressed by the clergy and then the courts will find or dismiss the complaint of the “aggrieved” party. Let me repeat that the steering committee of the Apo Mosque in Abuja must rescind the suspension of Sheikh Nuru Khalid immediately on or before Thursday 11:59p.m to enable the jamal al-Mumin hear the message from the noble servant of Allah on Friday, 8th April 2022. The FCT Minister is also enjoined to make sure that the overreach by the steering committee of the Apo Mosque in Abuja is not allowed in any of our churches or mosques in Abuja. President Muhammadu Buhari must ensure that the freedom of every person in Nigeria to associate, worship and expression is not abridged. All the privileges and honors of Sheikh Nuru Khalid should be left intact.