A respected Islamic scholar in Sokoto, Professor Mansur Ibrahim Sokoto, has sharply criticised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, accusing him of exploiting religious sentiment to win the 2023 election before sidelining Muslim interests.
Speaking during his Eid sermon on Friday, the cleric argued that the controversial Muslim-Muslim ticket was merely a political calculation rather than a commitment to Islamic or northern concerns.
According to him, the expectations of Muslim voters, particularly in the North, have not been met under the current administration.
“Tinubu rode to power on Muslim support, yet Muslims are now facing hardship,” he stated, adding that neither Islam nor the predominantly Muslim northern region appears central to the president’s agenda.
He further alleged that Tinubu’s focus remains largely on Lagos, where, he claimed, political alliances cut across religious lines.
Professor Ibrahim urged fellow clerics to abandon religious sentiment in political campaigns and instead demand measurable achievements in governance.
He stressed that Nigerians should only support leaders based on tangible improvements in sectors such as education, healthcare, electricity, and the economy.
Attempts to obtain a response from the Presidency were unsuccessful as of press time.
