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The Supreme Council for Shari’ah in Nigeria has expressed disappointment over the Muslim-Muslim ticket that brought President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima into office in the 2023 general election.
The council also lamented that Muslim communities, particularly in Yorubaland, have not benefited from having two Muslims at the highest levels of government, contrary to the widespread belief that it would favour them.
Speaking at a pre-Ramadan lecture held in Kaduna on Tuesday, the President of the SCSN, Sheikh Abdurrasheed Hadiyyatullah, said millions of Muslims remain politically marginalised across Nigeria, especially in the South-West, where they overwhelmingly supported the ticket.
“We have seen Nigerians vote for leaders of the same Islamic faith into the presidency without turning the country into a perpetual battlefield. However, we have not seen justice and equity extended to all communities, regardless of their faith,” Hadiyyatullah stated.
“We stand in solidarity with our brothers and sisters in the South-West and advise those who seek to divide the Nigerian Muslim Ummah to find other pursuits. The Ummah looks to us for guidance and assurance that their faith will not be sacrificed on the altar of political opportunism and greed. Many Muslims feel betrayed for voting this administration into power.
“For over two decades, the council has played a pivotal role in addressing insecurity and ethno-religious crises in Nigeria. In the past year, we have engaged with major security stakeholders, including the intelligence community and other strategic actors. These developments demand urgent and decisive action from the government,” he said.
Hadiyyatullah also expressed concern over the worsening socio-economic conditions in the country, which he described as “increasingly unbearable”.
He noted that the adverse effects of government policies, such as the removal of fuel subsidies, have led to skyrocketing costs of living, making food, transportation, and essential goods unaffordable for many Nigerians.
“The depreciation of the naira, high inflation, and stagnant wages have further eroded the purchasing power of citizens. The council has consistently advised the administration to adopt policies that alleviate these hardships.
“However, it is alarming that, within a short period, the government has introduced multiple new taxes and tariffs, including a 50% increase in telecommunications tariffs, a 4% FOB charge on imports, a 15% NPA tariff, a 100% hike in ATM charges, and proposed electricity tariff increases.”
The SCSN president further reiterated the council’s commitment to advocating for the easing of these draconian policies to protect the interests of the poor and vulnerable.
In the build-up to the 2023 presidential election, Tinubu chose Shettima as his running mate.
The Muslim-Muslim ticket generated outrage from some quarters, even within the ruling party.
Shortly before the announcement of Shettima, Ibrahim Masari, who had previously served as a placeholder for the vice-presidential slot, announced his withdrawal from the position.
The Supreme Council for Shari’ah in Nigeria has expressed disappointment over the Muslim-Muslim ticket that brought President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima into office in the 2023 general election.
The council also lamented that Muslim communities, particularly in Yorubaland, have not benefitted from the impacts of having two Muslims at the apex helms of affairs, contrary to the widespread belief that it would benefit them.
Speaking at the pre-Ramadan lecture held in Kaduna on Tuesday, the President of the SCSN, Sheikh Abdurrasheed Hadiyyatullah, said millions of Muslims remain politically marginalised across Nigeria, especially in the South-West, where they overwhelmingly supported the ticket.
“We have seen Nigerians vote for leaders of the same Islamic faith into the presidency without turning the country into a perpetual battlefield. However, we have not seen justice and equity extended to all communities, regardless of their faith,” Hadiyyatullah stated.
“We stand in solidarity with our brothers and sisters in the South-West and advise those who seek to divide the Nigerian Muslim Ummah to find other pursuits. The Ummah looks to us for guidance and assurance that their faith will not be sacrificed on the altar of political opportunism and greed. Many Muslims feel betrayed for voting this administration into power.
“For over two decades, the Council has played a pivotal role in addressing insecurity and ethno-religious crises in Nigeria. In the past year, we have engaged with major security stakeholders, including the intelligence community and other strategic actors. These developments demand urgent and decisive action from the government,” he said.
Hadiyyatullah also expressed grave concern over the worsening socio-economic conditions in the country, which he described as “increasingly unbearable”.
He noted that the adverse effects of government policies, such as the removal of fuel subsidies, have led to skyrocketing costs of living, making food, transportation, and essential goods unaffordable for many Nigerians.
“The depreciation of the Naira, high inflation, and stagnant wages have further eroded the purchasing power of citizens. The Council has consistently advised the administration to adopt policies that alleviate these hardships.
“However, it is alarming that, within a short period, the government has introduced multiple new taxes and tariffs, including a 50% increase in telecommunications tariffs, a 4% FOB charge on imports, a 15% NPA tariff, a 100% hike in ATM charges, and proposed electricity tariff increases.”
The SCSN President further reiterated the Council’s commitment to advocating for the easing of these draconian policies to protect the interests of the poor and vulnerable.
Recall that in the build-up to the 2023 presidential election, Tinubu chose Shettima as his running mate.
The Muslim/Muslim ticket generated outrage from some quarters, even within the ruling party.
Shortly before the announcement of Shettima, Ibrahim Masari, who had hitherto served as a ‘placeholder’ for the VP slot, announced his withdrawal from the position.
