If asking for better Nigeria is sinful, I’m ready to go to hell, says Abuja sacked Imam

Sheikh Nuhu Khalid, founder, Islamic Research and Da’awah Foundation, has defended the comment he made which triggered his removal as the Chief Imam of Apo Legislative Quarters Central Mosque in Abuja.

The Sheik was suspended and subsequently fired after delivering a sermon on insecurity.

In the sermon, the Sheik flayed the government over its failure to tame the escalating insecurity and killings in the country.

The imam hinted at some measures that electorate should devise should the authorities fail to protect lives.

He had 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.”

The Sheik popularly known as “Digital Imam” on social media has been trending since last week when the incident occurred.

In an interview, he said it is not too much to ask for a secure Nigeria from the government.

He stated that he only asked President Muhammadu Buhari to do more than he is doing presently to tackle the security challenges, reiterating that the recent attack on the Abuja-Kaduna train was unfortunate.

He said, “What I did was right, never wrong because I said it was unfortunate for us to experience what happened for Nigerians on the train.

“It was unfortunate and I said the President is supposed to do more than what he did. And I said if they are only concerned with voting and election, with counting votes, then we are going to speak that language to them and give them condition to secure Nigeria before 2023 or we don’t vote them.

“What we are asking is security. If it is a sin to ask for a secure Nigeria, I am ready to go to hell for that. But I know it is not a sin to ask for a secure Nigeria.” (Daily Trust)