Tension As 500 Islamic Scholars Disown Fake Northern Endorsement of Tinubu

The National Council of Islamic Scholars has rejected claims that about 500 northern Islamic scholars endorsed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, describing the reported statement as a misrepresentation of what transpired at a recent meeting in Jigawa State.

The Council said its members attended the gathering after allegedly being informed that President Tinubu had requested a meeting with Islamic scholars to enable them present their concerns and recommendations to him.

According to the Council, the scholars understood that the meeting would provide an opportunity for them to directly communicate with the President, similar to an earlier engagement involving Christian religious leaders in Abuja.

However, the Council alleged that none of its representatives was allowed to address the gathering or speak on behalf of the Islamic scholars.

It further claimed that journalists covering the meeting were asked to leave the venue while discussions continued and preparations were made for a statement that was later presented as the position of the scholars.

The Council alleged that journalists were only permitted to return after the statement had been prepared, following which the minister reportedly read it to the gathering.

The development has prompted the Council to question the basis for attributing the statement to the Islamic scholars who attended the meeting.

Reacting to the alleged endorsement, the Council’s spokesperson reportedly challenged the authenticity of the minister’s account and called for the truth surrounding the meeting to be established.

The spokesperson also invoked divine judgment, saying that if the statement accurately represented the position of the scholars, Allah would expose any secrets surrounding the matter.

He further prayed that if the statement was untruthful, Allah would reveal the truth and hold those responsible accountable.

The Council described the alleged incident as a serious injustice and expressed concern over what it considered an attempt to misrepresent the views of Islamic scholars.

It said the minister had not responded to the allegations as of the time of its statement.

The Council warned that it would continue to provide clarification to the public should further claims be made concerning the meeting.

It added that even if the minister remained silent, it could still make public what it knows about the circumstances surrounding the gathering.

The controversy comes amid growing political activity ahead of the 2027 general elections, with political parties and political actors seeking support from religious and community leaders across the country.

The allegations by the National Council of Islamic Scholars have not been independently verified, while the minister’s response to the claims remains awaited.

The Council concluded by calling for divine intervention, justice and accountability, and urged that the truth surrounding the disputed meeting be made known.