Abuja Chief Imam, Sheikh Khalid, Suspended Over ‘Anti-Government’ Sermon

The mosque committee of Apo legislative quarters, Abuja, has reportedly suspended its Chief Imam, Shiekh Nuru Khalid for allegedly violating the tenets of Islam.

TRIXX NG learnt that Sheikh Khalid has been an avid critic of the Buhari government over the spate of killings, kidnapping and other criminal activities.

The cleric was said to have delivered a sermon last Friday where he lampooned the incumbent government over ongoing insecurity challenges in the country.

In his recent sermon which led to the suspension, Sheikh Khalid preached some measures that the electorate should consider if the government fail to protect their lives.

“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,” Dailytrust quoted the cleric as saying.

In a statement, the chairman of the mosque committee, Senator Saidu Muhammed Dansadau sent to BBC Hausa Service, said the committee suspended the embattled imam over his sermon that it deemed ‘inciting public outrage’.

The statement read, “I am informing you that you have been suspended from leading prayers in the Apo Legislative Quarters Mosque from today being April 2nd, 2022 until further notice.

“The decision was taken out of the inciting Friday sermon you delivered on April 1st, 2022; where you advised people not to vote come 2023 general elections unless politicians respond to some critical questions.

“You should have advised them to vote out those that transgress the Almighty and breach people’s social contract as well as the state.”

Having suspended Sheikh Khalid, the committee immediately appointed Malam Mohammad who will deliver Ramadan Tafsir while Malam Abdullahi will be leading Friday prayers.

However, there’s no reaction yet from the suspended Imam.