Muslim Council in Abuja has suspended Sheikh Khalid of the Apo legislative quarters mosque for criticising the Muhammadu Buhari regime over increased banditry attacks in the country.

Delivering the Juma’at on Friday, Sheikh Khalid excoriated Mr Buhari for his failure to tackle insecurity following the bombing of the Abuja-Kaduna train with over 1,000 passengers.

The Sheikh said it was odd that the same president who campaigned for votes in Kaduna was yet to visit the state since the bombing that caused several deaths, with scores still missing.

He stressed that Mr Buhari’s constant condemnation of attacks was not enough, adding that at best what the condemnations have achieved was to embolden the bandits.

He, therefore, urged Nigerians to demand better governance from elected officials and in instances where their protection cannot be guaranteed, that they should not vote during elections.

“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,” the sheikh said. 

Mr Khalid’s sermon was met with heavy sanction as he was immediately suspended from leading prayers at the Apo mosque.

In a statement conveying his suspension, Senator Saidu Muhammed, chairman of the mosque committee, said the sermon “incited public outrage” and opposed the tenets of Islam.

“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,” read the statement.

“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,” the statement added.

The Muslim committee has since appointed Malam Mohammed to replace the suspended sheikh.