Shari’ah Council Slams Tinubu-Shettima Ticket, Says It Hasn’t Benefited Muslims
The Supreme Council for Shari’ah in Nigeria (SCSN) has expressed disappointment over the Muslim-Muslim ticket that brought President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima into office in 2023, stating that the arrangement has not delivered the expected benefits for the Muslim community.
Speaking at a Pre-Ramadan Lecture, Sheikh Abdurrasheed Hadiyyatullah, the President of SCSN, criticized the administration for failing to address the needs and concerns of Nigerian Muslims, despite the widespread belief that the Muslim-Muslim ticket would provide advantages to the community.
“We have seen Nigerians vote for people of the same Islamic faith into the Presidency without turning the country into an unceasing battlefield, but we have not seen justice and equity done to all communities, irrespective of their faith,” Hadiyyatullah said.
He further lamented the political marginalization of millions of Muslims across various regions of Nigeria, despite their large population and constitutional rights. He also warned against attempts to suppress the rights of South West Muslims to organize initiatives that promote peaceful coexistence with Christians in their communities.
“We stand in solidarity with our brothers and sisters in the South West and we advise those who think they can divide the Nigerian Muslim Umma to find other mischief to engage themselves,” Hadiyyatullah declared.
In addition to his concerns about the political exclusion of Muslims, Hadiyyatullah raised alarms over the worsening economic conditions in the country, urging the federal government to take immediate steps to alleviate the suffering of the Nigerian populace.
“The Umma looks up to us for guidance and assurances that their faith will not be sacrificed on the altar of political opportunism and greed. Many Muslims are being encouraged to think they have been betrayed for voting for this administration,” he added, calling on the government to prioritize the well-being of Nigerians in its policies.
