Presidency discredits Islamic cleric’s claim N500 billion budgeted for northern Muslim, Christian, traditional leaders to return Muslim-Muslim ticket
An Islamic cleric, Sanusi Khalil, has alleged that N500 billion was budgeted for the purpose of getting the support of Muslim, Christian, and traditional leaders in northern Nigeria for the reelection of a Muslim-Muslim ticket.
Though the cleric did not mention the names of the donors or their representatives, he was probably referring to the reelection campaign of President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima, who both won their first term election on the Muslim-Muslim ticket.
In a viral video circulating across social media, the cleric delivered his message to a gathering, stating that he would not allow his religious position to be used for political influence.
Speaking in Hausa, Mr Khalil claimed that he was approached by some unnamed individuals to join a move to mobilise Muslim leaders and traditional rulers across northern Nigeria to support a Muslim-Muslim ticket.
He claimed, “They have budgeted N500 billion to mobilise mallams and traditional rulers so that they can campaign for them. They invited me to join the project but I rejected the offer with a warning to them to never bring something like that to me again.”
The cleric also claimed that a separate budget was made for Christian leaders for the same purpose. “The N500 billion is for Muslim leaders, there’s a separate budget for christian leaders,” he alleged.
When one of the listeners told him that the project was being headed by a pastor, he stated, “Count me out; I will not betray my brothers. I am not like the other greedy Muslim leaders who received money in the name of Muslim-Muslim ticket. Count me out.”
Contacted for his comment on Mr Khalil’s claim, presidential spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, said that the cleric’s claim was fictitious.
“Whoever believes that, can believe anything; including tales by moonlight,” Mr Onanuga said on Sunday in a text message to Peoples Gazette.
Messrs Tinubu and Shettima came under criticisms during the 2023 electioneering over their joint Muslim-Muslim ticket.
Supporters of the Labour Party presidential candidate at the time, Peter Obi, who is a christian from the South-East, criticised Mr Tinubu, a Muslim from the South-West, over his choice of another Muslim from the North-East as a running mate.
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