Femi Fani-Kayode, a former Minister of Aviation, has publicly denounced recent statements made by Sheikh Yahaya Jingir during a gathering in Kano. He labeled the cleric’s remarks as polarizing and a threat to national religious harmony. Fani-Kayode noted that he has been contacted by numerous citizens concerned about the potential fallout of such rhetoric.
The former minister expressed disappointment in the Kano State Governor for allegedly applauding the comments during the event. He cautioned that prioritizing political gains over religious sensitivity could damage the All Progressives Congress ahead of the 2027 elections. He emphasized that faith is too significant to be treated as a political tool.
Highlighting Nigeria’s secular status, Fani-Kayode argued against the classification of the nation as exclusively Islamic. He stated that political leadership should be evaluated based on capacity, character, and competence rather than religious identification. According to him, the cleric’s views do not reflect the official stance of the APC nor the general sentiment of Nigerian Muslims.
Fani-Kayode called for Sheikh Jingir to issue an apology to the Christian community and pursue a path of reconciliation. Furthermore, he urged the Department of State Services to intervene and caution the cleric against spreading inflammatory statements that could disrupt peace in the country.
