How Sanwo-Olu Suddenly Became a Beautiful Bride to Muslim-Muslim Clerics in Lagos -By Abdulkadir Salaudeen

We told them there isn’t anything like Muslim-Muslim ticket. The APC ticket should be seen as Tinubu/Shettima, not as same faith. We emphasized that the combination is just a political strategy. We de-emphasized its religious outlook. They insisted it is not. They averred that it is religion and de-emphasized its strategicness. Some went to the extent, among the clerics, of tagging it jihad. And because some of us considered the emphasis on religiosity of the same faith ticket as rubbish, some clerics—especially in the north—excommunicated other clerics and ordinary Muslims like my humble self from Islam. I just hope and pray we remain Muslims in the sight of God for not making sense of the Muslim-Muslim ticket.

I never knew we will be vindicated so soon. Muslim-Muslim clerics in Lagos are now campaigning for Governor Sanwo-Olu. I initially thought he (Sanwo-Olu) has apostatized and reverted to Islam—being a Christian. Because we were told, after APC victory in the presidential election, that Muslim-Muslim has come to stay in Nigeria and there is nothing anyone could do about it. That sense of euphoria has never made any sense to me. I have said it clearly on this page before the presidential election that BAT’s or Obi’s victory—as far as I am concerned—is not a triumph for Islam or Christianity respectively. In my article titled “Saturday’s Election and the Triumph or Humiliation of a Religion,” I wrote: “I don’t know why people, through religion, create problems they cannot solve. They will end up being caught up in a web of disgrace and shamelessness from which extrication becomes a problem.”

This is exactly what is playing out in Lagos. Last week I listened to some religious talks by many erstwhile Muslim-Muslim clerics in Lagos—undoing the Muslim-Muslim ticket that has come to stay as they claim. These clerics urged Lagosians—the Muslims particularly—to vote for Sanwo-Olu(a Christian) in the forthcoming gubernatorial election. What a volte-face! One particular Lagos cleric, may God have mercy on him, added that Muslims should vote out Governor Seyi Makinde (PDP) in Oyo State. Funnily, Makinde (a disgruntled G5 PDP governor) worked for Muslim-Muslim ticket in Oyo State. The video of this particular cleric was posted on one Islamic Facebook platform. Hereunder are some reactions to the cleric’s position (I edited some for clarity):

“Double- mouthed,” “I am Muslim by Allah’s grace not by partisan Nigerian scholars,” “Fear Allah”, “Nigeria cannot develop with these kinds of Alfa and pastors,” “They are our major problems in this country,” “How can nation move with all these nonsense,” “This same Seyi Makinde worked for Tinubu’s victory in Oyo,” “Tinubu for presidency and not losing Lagos?Orisirisi,” “Religious leaders? God will punish them all,” “Wallohi, these scholars are misleading this Ummah,” “Most of these Alfas and pastors will not see heaven,” “So they want to sacrifice their Muslim brother (Abdul Azeez Jandor of PDP) for a Christian?”

The comments continue; “May Allah save us from this deviant leaders who called themselves religious leader,” “Ulama into this? It is finished for Nigeria,” “They are liars,” “Thanks to Allah, Nigerian youth are beyond religious bigotry,” “They are all after their pockets,” “I thought they are men of God,” “I don’t know what concerns these Alfas and pastors with democracy,” “These religious leaders want to scatter Nigeria,” “Do you still count on these Muslim scholars,” “Wallohi, this baba is misleading this ummah because of what he will eat,” “Haaa! You don’t fear your akhirahwallohi.”

The above is just a snippet (an extract), there are hundreds of such comments, some of which I even find very unprintable. This is my first time to see supposedly moderate Muslims denigrating supposedly moderate Muslim clerics on a public platform. It is disgraceful. It is generally believed that Labor Party defeated APC in Lagos because many Lagosians danced to the former’s ethnic cum religious music. Ordinarily, one would expect these same faith ticket clerics to urge Muslims to massively, fanatically, and revengefully vote PDP which candidate is a Muslim(Abdul-Azeez Adediran) popularly known as Jandor. But that is not the case. If they argue that PDP is not strong in Lagos, LP has never been strong in Lagos. Voters made it what it is. So Muslim-Muslim clerics, because of religion, can make PDP—with Muslim candidate—stronger if truly it is religion.

Lagos sheikhs, in unison, are campaigning against their Muslim brother. They claim voting Sanwo-Olu will reinforce Muslim-Muslim ticket. They claim voting out APC in Lagos will create problem for Tinubu, and that Lagos governor cannot be in opposition to Nigerian president because Lagos is strategic, and that Lagos should not be allowed to be hijacked by outsiders etc. I have never heard an absurd argument like this in my entire life from learned scholars. Religious texts were also quoted on pulpits, in what many consider a desecration of the Prophet’s pulpit and abuse of revealed texts, to support Sanwo-Olu’s governorship.

Even if we assume they do not believe in the same faith ticket anymore which stipulates that a Muslim must be a leader in Nigeria, I expected them to reel out some of the outstanding achievements of Sanwo-Olu as governor to woo voters for him since clerics are now campaigners. This would have been more convincing than saying opposition’s win in Lagos will be a problem to the Presidency.

I cannot recall that Late President Yar’adua or former President Jonathan ever complained that they were having difficulty to rule Nigeria because opposition party ruled Lagos during their tenure. It was only during former President Obasanjo’s tenure that there ensued a disagreement between Lagos State and the Federal Government which was about the creation of additional local governments. And even then, it was the Federal Government dealing with the Lagos State Government on constitutional issue; not the reverse. No governor, by being in opposition, can deal with the Federal Government. If it is claimed that Tinubu, being the President, will deal with Lagos if won by PDP or LP, then let him destroy the Lagos they allegedly claim he built.

What these clerics are telling us is that Muslim governor in Lagos will constitute a serious challenge to Muslim-Muslim presidency in Abuja. What kind of thinking is this? Now, Nigerians will realize that it is not about religion, it is about selfish interest. It is only painful that some of these respected clerics were naively drawn into this dirty thing as pliable tools in the hands of savvy but dishonest politicians in the name of religion. I pity their naivety.

However, I should single out a cleric—and his ilk—for commendation. It is not that his choice (Sanwo-Olu) which other Muslim-Muslim clerics are campaigning for is my choice if I were to vote in Lagos; but it is because I share his philosophy. That is Sheikh Abdul Rahman Ahmad, the national missionary of the Ansar-Ud-Deen Society of Nigeria. He is of the opinion that competency rather than religious persuasion or tribe of who becomes President or Vice President of Nigeria should be considered. He reportedly said this around July last year. He describes critics and opponents of same faith ticket as hypocrites and encourage voters to vote whoever can successfully steer the Nigerian sheep in the right direction.

So, as far as Nigerian democracy (as currently constituted) is concerned, I don’t care who becomes a governor or president. Whether he or she is a MONKEY, provided there will be justice, progress, development, selfless service to the nation, and most importantly religious freedom and a leveled playing ground, I don’t care. Anyone can call me an apostate or a useless Muslim, I still don’t care. I advise Lagosians to vote wisely for candidates of their choice.

As I was writing this article I learnt that a cleric in Kano State has been dragged into the police net for inciting violence. Though all contestants are Muslims in Kano, this NNPP religious fanatic believes the gubernatorial election in Kano is still a jihad. One wonders who this cleric is waging jihad at. He said they will all die in INEC office if their candidate is not declared winner. He also assured his hypnotized followers that if they die they will go to Paradise. Die for democracy and go to Paradise? Anyway, I am not a sheikh to know. But enough of this clerical stupidity. May Allah have mercy onus and on our sheikhs.

Abdulkadir Salaudeen

salahuddeenabdulkadir@gmail.com