The residents mentioned Abubakar was not the mosque’s substantive imam, including that he solely led prayers when the common imam was absent.
Recall that the allegedly sacked Imam, Abubakar, had claimed that his support for Tinubu forward of the 2027 common elections led to his removal from a neighbourhood mosque the place he typically led prayers and preached.
He claimed he had urged worshippers to cease blaming the President for insecurity and financial hardship, calling on them to wish and alter their angle in the direction of God.
Abubakar additionally mentioned his proposal to rename the mosque after the President contributed to the disagreement.
“The second reason for my removal is that I requested that the mosque be renamed ‘Sheikh Imam Bola Ahmed Tinubu Mosque’. That suggestion was not well received,” he mentioned.
However, opposite to his claims, residents described Abubakar as a comic and controversial determine, alleging that he was related to politicians from totally different events.
Ibrahim Muhammad, a resident talking to our reporter, mentioned, “Everybody knows ‘Jejiwe Danmalam’ as a comedian and controversial figure. He works for almost any political party,” Muhammad mentioned.
He additional alleged that Abubakar had beforehand criticised Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress over financial hardship earlier than turning round to declare support for him.
Muhammad urged journalists to confirm info earlier than publication, significantly as political actions forward of the 2027 elections collect momentum.
“During this political season, everybody will look for ways to attract attention. It is therefore important for journalists to verify information before spreading it,” he mentioned.
The chairman of the mosque committee, Imam Abubakar, additionally disputed his claim to the place of imam.
“He is not the substantive Imam of the mosque. He only leads prayers when the actual imam is absent. That is all,” the affiliate mentioned.
Jibrin mentioned the committee’s concern was not solely Abubakar’s support for Tinubu but in addition his alleged use of the mosque for political discussions.
“Our major challenge with him was not only his campaign for Tinubu but the way and manner he gathered many people in front of the mosque and sometimes entered the mosque purposely to discuss politics,” he mentioned.
He mentioned the committee had warned Abubakar in opposition to utilizing the mosque for political actions.
“The mosque committee sat down with him and cautioned him against turning the mosque to a political platform because of the Quranic verse which says the mosque is solemnly for worship of Allah alone. We vehemently rejected the use of the mosque for political meetings,” he mentioned.
Jibrin added, “We have warned him not once or twice but many times, but he didn’t heed our pleas.”
On the proposed identify change, the committee chairman mentioned members rejected the thought as a result of the mosque belonged to the group.
“All the committee members said ‘no’ because the mosque belongs to the community. This mosque has a committee of which I am one of the members, and when he insisted, we rejected the idea and resolved that the mosque name would remain,” he mentioned.
Jibrin maintained that the committee was not in opposition to any political candidate however wouldn’t enable the mosque for use for partisan actions.
Meanwhile, Islamic scholar Sheikh Dr Ibrahim Adam Disina described studies of the alleged removal as false, saying a social media submit he supposed as a joke had led to studies by some media organisations.
“The story about the Imam being removed in Bauchi is a complete farce,” he mentioned.
Disina questioned why the studies have been printed with out what he thought-about enough checks.
“These are two media outlets that are supposed to be credible, from which one expects verification, professionalism and thorough investigation; yet, they fell into a trap set by social media,” he mentioned.
The Bauchi State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists additionally questioned the studies, saying its preliminary inquiries discovered no proof that Abubakar had been appointed or served as an imam in any mosque within the state.
In a press release signed by its chairman, Isah Garba Gadau, and secretary, Isiyaka Ismail Wunti, the council mentioned the studies didn’t determine the mosque authorities allegedly accountable for the removal or set up the explanations for the choice.
The NUJ urged journalists to contact related mosque authorities and independently confirm claims earlier than publishing studies involving faith and politics.
