Jingir’s comments reveal reality of discrimination against northern Christians – Hayab

The Chairman of the Northern Christian Association (NCA), Rev. Joseph John Hayab, has said the recent controversial comments by Islamic cleric, Sheikh Sani Yahaya Jingir, on the Muslim-Muslim ticket have exposed what Christians in Northern Nigeria have complained about for decades.

The controversy followed Jingir’s remarks at a gathering in Kano, where he defended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Muslim-Muslim ticket ahead of the 2027 general elections, saying that Muslims should not apologise for supporting candidates of their faith because of their population and popularity.

In a viral video from the event organised by the Jama’atu Izalatil Bid’ah Wa Iqamatus Sunnah (JIBWIS), and attended by the governors of Kano and Jigawa states, Abba Yusuf and Umar Namadi, respectively, Jingir also described Christians as “infidels” and urged Muslims to unite and use their numerical strength to pursue their political interests.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Morning Brief on Monday, Hayab said Jingir’s comments had brought into the open sentiments that Christians in the North had experienced for years but which were often dismissed whenever concerns were raised about persecution, marginalisation and religious dominance.

Hayab said his major concern was that the comments were made openly in the presence of political leaders who did not immediately reject or rebuke them but were instead seen cheering the preacher. He lamented that Nigeria’s pretence over allegations of persecution and discrimination against Christians had finally come to an end.

“There is always a day when you will no longer pretend. We have been living in pretence in Nigeria, lying to ourselves that we are together, lying to each other that there is unity and lying to each other that we are co-citizens.

“But for us as Christians in the North, we know these preachers have always been there for all these decades. So, I think Sheikh Jingir just found an opportunity to open up what has been happening in secret,” Hayab said.

Hayab maintained that the controversy was not simply about Muslims supporting Muslim candidates but about the language used to address fellow Nigerians because of their faith.

He argued that President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima were not elected by Muslims alone in 2023, noting that the Muslim-Muslim ticket also received support from Christian-majority states and communities.