The administration committee of Masjid Abdullahi Bin Zubbair in Madina Quarters, Bauchi State, has eliminated its imam, Dahiru Abubakar, over allegations that he used sermons to campaign for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election.
The committee additionally rejected an alleged proposal by Mr Abubakar to rename the mosque after the president.
The committee’s chairman, Abubakar Jibrin, confirmed the elimination in an interview with Daily Trust, saying the imam had repeatedly been warned towards utilizing the mosque for political actions.
A supply informed the newspaper that Mr Abubakar had subtly campaigned for Mr Tinubu throughout sermons after compulsory prayers, telling worshippers the president was not accountable for the nation’s insecurity and deserved one other time period.
The committee reportedly arrange a panel after the same sermon the earlier weekend. It eliminated the imam after he repeated the remarks following the early morning Subhi prayer on Sunday, 18 October.
Mr Jibrin mentioned the committee’s considerations went past the alleged campaign for Mr Tinubu to incorporate the imam’s observe of gathering individuals in entrance of the mosque and generally inside it to debate politics.
“We have warned him not once or twice but many times, but he didn’t heed our pleas,” Mr Jibrin mentioned. “We vehemently rejected the use of the mosque for political meetings.”
Mr Abubakar, nevertheless, denied that his sermons amounted to partisan campaigning, saying he had urged worshippers to cease blaming Mr Tinubu for Nigeria’s insecurity and financial challenges, which he described as an “end times phenomenon.”
“I have been preaching to the people to stop castigating President Tinubu for the insecurity and economic challenges. They prepared to vote for him and give him another mandate in 2027 to continue his mandate,” he mentioned.
He added that his sermons targeted on the concern of God, prayer and day by day conduct. He additionally cited insecurity in Sudan, Chad and Mali to argue that Mr Tinubu couldn’t be held accountable for each safety disaster.
Mr Jibrin additional alleged that the imam had insisted on renaming the mosque from Masjid Abdullahi Bin Zubbair to Masjid Imam Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
According to the committee chairman, members rejected the proposal, saying that the mosque belonged to the group and its identify ought to stay unchanged.
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“All the committee members said ‘no’ because the mosque belongs to the community,” Mr Jibrin mentioned. “When he insisted, we rejected the idea and resolved that the mosque name would remain Masjid Abdullahi Bin Zubbair.”
Mr Jibrin mentioned the committee determined to not reinstate Mr Abubakar, stressing that it was not against any political candidate however wouldn’t permit the mosque for use for political actions.
He mentioned political campaigns and conferences must be performed by means of political events and at their workplaces slightly than in a mosque.
“Our prayer is to Allah to choose the best for the country, be it President Tinubu or any candidate among the presidential candidates who would become a blessing to the country,” he mentioned.
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