DAMATURU — The leadership of Jama’atu Izalatil Bid’ah Wa Iqamatis Sunnah (JIBWIS) has suspended prominent cleric Sheikh Alkali Abubakar Salihu Zaria from conducting his annual Ramadan Tafsir in Yobe State following a provocative sermon targeting the nation’s political elite.
The suspension, ordered by the National Chairman of the Council of Ulama, Sheikh Sani Yahya Jingir, comes after Sheikh Alkali’s 11th-day session at the Mokas Mosque in Damaturu, where he launched a scathing critique of state governors and their relationship with the presidency.
“Governors Fear Tinubu More Than Allah”
In the viral sermon, Sheikh Alkali accused state executives of moral bankruptcy, claiming they have abandoned their religious and constitutional duties out of political subservience.
“Our governors today fear President Bola Tinubu much more than they fear Allah,” the cleric declared to the congregation. He further alleged that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has been elevated to a status where membership is equated with “sainthood,” while the suffering of the masses under insecurity and economic hardship is ignored by leaders terrified of losing presidential favor.
JIBWIS Cracks Down
The religious body moved swiftly to distance itself from the remarks. In a statement confirming the withdrawal of his posting, JIBWIS leadership cited a violation of the organization’s preaching “methodology.”
According to the council, the Sheikh’s delivery was deemed inconsistent with the decorum required of a Tafsir session. Sources within the organization noted that while clerics are encouraged to speak truth to power, Sheikh Alkali’s direct naming of the President and his theatrical delivery—which included a controversial display involving “relief materials”—crossed an institutional red line.
The Fallout
Following the directive, Sheikh Alkali took to social media to urge his followers to remain calm, stating he accepted the decision as the will of God. His departure from the Damaturu pulpit has since sparked a heated debate across Northern Nigeria, with some viewing him as a martyr for the truth and others accusing him of using the pulpit for political grandstanding.
The 12th-day Tafsir session in Damaturu remained suspended as of yesterday, with security heightened around the venue to prevent any potential unrest from the cleric’s supporters.
