They called on religious leaders to resist any attempts to exploit religion for political purposes, which could potentially lead to chaos.

In a joint statement by the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Daniel Okoh, and the President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Alhaji Muhammed Sa’ad Abubakar, the NIREC co-chairmen expressed their concern over the rising tide of hate speeches witnessed before and after the 2023 elections.

The statement denounced the manipulation of religion for personal gain, strongly condemning any assertions or rhetoric that suggests the superiority of one religion over another. NIREC affirmed that Nigeria is a nation with multiple religions, all under the guidance of God.

While hoping that every Nigerian could practice their chosen faith sincerely, NIREC urged Christian and Muslim politicians to exhibit the fear and love of God by prioritizing the welfare and common good of the people.

It called on religious leaders to resist any attempts by politicians to exploit religion for divisive purposes, stressing the need for peace, unity, and harmony.

NIREC also called upon political leaders to refrain from making statements that could further escalate tensions in the already polarized nation.

The council appealed to all politicians to conduct themselves with integrity, dignity, and decorum, rejecting divisive politics based on sectarianism.

It urged the general public to respect the ongoing legal processes concerning electoral disputes and allow the judiciary to fulfill its role.

NIREC called on all Nigerians to demonstrate patriotism, abide by the law, and promote peace, while actively opposing any efforts by leaders to exploit religion to divide the nation.

The statement concluded with a prayer for a just and harmonious Nigeria, highlighting that building a prosperous nation requires the collective effort of every citizen.

The Sultan of Sokoto-led council which slammed CAN for opposing the nomination of 13 Northerners/ Muslims out of the 20 jurists listed as Court of Appeal Justices, had also accused the Christian group of beating a war drum over the introduction of hijab in mission schools in Ilorin, Kwara State.

However reacting to this, CAN allege that the NSCIA has unwittingly exposed itself as a promoter of bad governance, divisiveness and injustice in Nigeria under the Buhari administration.

The statement read “Our attention has been drawn to a Press Statement issued by the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) where the Council used vulgar, immature language and unprintable words to describe the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in its bid to justify the obvious lopsided appointments of the Federal Government in favour of its members. The Council was smart by half when it picked an example of just one arm of Government without addressing the totality of fundamental questions on all the arms of government. The NSCIA evaded those troubling issues that are well known not only to Nigerians but members of the international community; those knotty issues that have pushed our country on the edge of precipice. By doing so, NSCIA has unwittingly exposed itself as a promoter of bad governance, divisiveness and injustice in Nigeria under the Buhari administration. Why did the Council remain evasive on the big issue of the Court of Appeal? Interestingly, there was never a time when CAN ever attacked or made veiled reference to NSCIA over the obvious lopsided appointments in the country. CAN’s concern has always been directed at the Federal Government as a concerned non-governmental group but NSCIA as an underdog of Government rather took it upon itself to speak for the Government. We wish the Council had allowed the Government to speak for itself. We all know how they removed Justice Walter Onnoghen from office without following due process. But for the critical section of the polity including the likes of Col. Umar Dangiwa, the incumbent President of the Court of Appeal would have been denied her succession privilege and right. We didn’t see NSCIA on the list. Is it falsehood or character assassination that the Security Council of the country has remained an appendage of NSCIA under the watch of President Muhammadu Buhari? The Constitutional position is that all of us, Christians and Moslems are stakeholders in this country, and votes were not collated on the basis of religion. So for the government to bend or lean towards Muslims in its appointment of Security Chiefs is unconstitutional and doesn’t take into consideration the varied interests of other ethnic and religious groups. Up till today, it is those things that cannot bring development in education that the NSCIA members are still fighting for such as the wearing of hijab in schools started by Christians and are still largely being maintained by them. Will a girl wearing hijab be more brilliant in school than the rest of her counterparts? They have forgotten that till today, we are not mounting pressure on the government to introduce the Christian culture to the Islamic schools.”

The Sultan of Sokoto and President General of the Council, His Eminence Sa’ad Abubakar, stated this at a meeting with the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha; the Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire; and the Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr Faisal Shuaib on Friday in Abuja.

As controversies over the effectiveness of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccines continue, the Federal Government decided to meet with Muslim scholars and imams led by the Sultan to seek their support.

The vaccine has been endorsed by NSCIA but the Sultan said the organization will not decide for anyone whether or not to take the jab.

The Chairman of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19, Boss Mustapha while speaking at the meeting announced that the task force was working to begin vaccination of religious and traditional leaders in other to boost the confidence of the public.

Mustapha, however, commended the Muslim scholars and imams for their support to the government in the management of the virus.

In his remarks, Ehanire reiterated that the AstraZeneca vaccine was safe and those who have already been vaccinated, including himself, have yet to report any side effects.

He explained that the government decided to involve the religious leaders so as to speed up the administration of the vaccines, considering the impact of the disease on the Nigerian population.

For the NPHCDA chief, the government decided to convene the meeting in order to clear the air on the lingering controversy and commence mass vaccination.

He noted that the European Union Medicines Council had also reversed its initial decision to stop the use of the vaccine and said that it was safe for use.

According to The Punch, the Council stated this on Tuesday in an advisory to Muslims in Nigeria.

President-General of the Council and Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, said other congregational worships noted with the holy month have been suspended.

He said, “In view of the current COVID-19 pandemic considered the reports of the Fatwa Committee & the Ad-hoc Committee on COVID-19 & observed that:

“Scholars of Islam throughout the world are unanimous that the Prophet of Islam warned against the spread of contagious diseases and urged Muslims to prevent the spread.

“Jum’ah, as an obligatory religious activity, which is temporarily suspended to prevent the spread of COVID 19 outweighs the performance of any meritorious religious act such as congregational Tarawih and the conduct of Tafsir.

“Consequently, the Council directs that congregational Tarawih in the Mosque and the various Majalis Tafsir (sessions) and I’tikaf during the month of Ramadan of 1441 A.H be suspended.

“Individual Scholars and Organisations are encouraged to employ available means of disseminating information such as radio, television, other virtual facilities, print, social and traditional media for dissemination of tafsir and other da’awah activities.”