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.
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,” he added.
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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