ABUJA, NIGERIA — The Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC), under the joint leadership of its Co-Chairmen—the Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), His Eminence Alhaji Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar CFR,mni, and the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Archbishop Daniel Okoh—stands in absolute, unequivocal condemnation of the recent divisive utterances made by the National Chairman of the Council of Ulama of JIBWIS, Sheikh Sani Yahaya Jingir.

As the apex body dedicated to fostering inter-religious harmony, national cohesion, and peaceful coexistence in our beloved country, NIREC views the Sheikh’s remarks with profound concern. Words that promote religious triumphalism, threaten the citizenship rights of any Nigerian, or frame democratic processes as tools for absolute religious dominance are dangerous. They directly undermine the fragile peace and corporate existence of our multi-religious and multi-ethnic nation.

Nigeria is a diverse family built on the foundational principles of equity, mutual respect, and shared destiny. No single individual, regardless of their religious or political standing, has the right to alienate any segment of the Nigerian population based on faith. To suggest that citizens who disagree with a specific political configuration should leave the country is not only deeply uncharitable but also a flagrant violation of the fundamental rights guaranteed to every Nigerian by the constitution.

NIREC wishes to remind all religious leaders that faith should be a vehicle for healing, justice, unity, and moral rectitude, rather than a weapon for political polarization and exclusion. The inflammatory rhetoric witnessed in the widely circulated video clip does a grave disservice to Islam, a religion whose very name denotes peace, and insults the collective sensibilities of millions of peace-loving Nigerian Muslims and Christians who live side by side every day.

We categorically declare that Nigeria is not a religious state. The political reality of a Muslim-Muslim presidency under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR and Vice President Kashim Shettima, GCON does not alter, transform, or dilute the secular, multi-religious status of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Section 10 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) explicitly states that "The Government of the Federation or of a State shall not adopt any religion as State Religion." The governance architecture of Nigeria is rooted in constitutional democracy, not a theocracy. Political configurations are temporary products of electoral strategies and democratic choices; they are not divine mandates for the suppression or marginalization of any religious group.

The Muslim-Muslim ticket was a political decision, it cannot, and must not, be weaponized by anyone to imply the dominance of one faith over another. The current leadership bears a constitutional duty to govern for all Nigerians—Christians, Muslims, and traditionalists alike—without bias or favouritism.

We commend those political leaders, including prominent Muslim and Christian stakeholders within and outside the ruling party, who have already distanced themselves from this dangerous rhetoric. Their swift rejection of these extremist views proves that the overwhelming majority of Nigerians value national unity above sectarian divisions.

NIREC calls on Sheikh Sani Yahaya Jingir to deeply reflect on the weight of his words and immediately retract these divisive statements in the interest of national peace. We also urge security agencies to closely monitor individuals who use the pulpit to incite religious tension and threaten national stability, ensuring that the law takes its course when speech crosses the line into incitement.

To all Nigerian citizens, we appeal for calm and resilience. Do not allow your faith to be exploited by those seeking political relevance or personal aggrandizement. Let us remain steadfast in our commitment to a united, peaceful, and prosperous Nigeria where every citizen, regardless of how they worship God, can live in dignity, safety, and honour.

May Almighty God continue to bless and preserve the Federal Republic of Nigeria.