…Slams Islamic Scholars for Hosting Peter Obi
By Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna
The National Chairman of the Izala Islamic Movement, Jos branch, Fadilatu Sheikh Sani Yahaya Jingir, has stirred nationwide controversy following a sermon laced with ethnic sentiments that many fear could worsen Nigeria’s fragile unity.
In his recent address, Sheikh Jingir harshly criticized a group of Islamic scholars who hosted Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and a member of the Igbo ethnic group, dressing him in traditional Hausa attire.
Expressing outrage, Sheikh Jingir declared:
“If those scholars are not insane, why would they dress someone from the tribe that killed our Sardauna in Hausa garments? We will never forgive the Igbo for that!”
Backing his comments with historical grievances, Jingir claimed that the political conflict between the late Premier of Northern Nigeria, Sir Ahmadu Bello (the Sardauna), and Igbo military officers stemmed from the Sardauna’s alleged efforts to limit their influence, accusing them of filling government positions with their kinsmen—an act, he argued, that led to his assassination in the 1966 coup.
In a more controversial remark made earlier in the week, Sheikh Jingir reportedly said during another sermon:
“Stop calling Fulani people ‘bandits.’ Even if they commit crimes, they should be spared. Arrest only the Hausas.”
This statement sparked immediate backlash on social media, especially among residents of the North-East and North-West, where Fulani bandits have been linked to large-scale killings. Reports estimate that over two million Hausa civilians have been killed in the region, including traditional rulers like the Emir of Gobir.
A report credited to journalist KhalidKaduna of the Hausa Voice News Service (HVNS), widely shared and tagged #HausaActivist, noted:
“Despite the scale of the violence, no formal condolences or public statements have been issued by top Fulani monarchs or the Sultanate.”
Prominent analyst and historical researcher Musa Kabir reacted, stating:
“When Hausas criticize Fulani dominance, they’re labeled as ‘contract seekers.’ But Sheikh Jingir is openly defending Fulani killers from the pulpit. What’s worse—Sardauna’s assassination decades ago, or the ongoing mass slaughter of Hausas by Fulani bandits today?”
On the growing threat to Hausa identity, some historians and political observers argue that the Fulani elite are attempting to erase Hausa cultural influence by dominating history, governance, and religious discourse.
“Yoruba and Igbo communities recognize and respect the Hausa as a distinct ethnic group, but Fulani narratives increasingly seek to subsume or rewrite Hausa heritage,” another observer commented.
The statement added that while conflicts with the Igbo are mostly isolated incidents often triggered by Fulani-instigated tensions, Fulani bandits continue to carry out large-scale attacks on Hausa communities without consequence.
In a final call for unity and responsible leadership, HVNS wrote:
“There is a growing appeal to religious leaders, scholars, and community heads to stop inciting hatred or inflaming ethnic divisions. Leadership must be rooted in peace, unity, and mutual respect—not supremacy or ethnic bias.”
