…As cleric gets new appointment, says “I paid for identifying with voiceless Nigerians”
The National Assembly Mosque Zone-E, Apo Legislators’ Quarters, Gudu District, Abuja has terminated the appointment of its Chief Imam, Sheikh Nuru Khalid.
Recall that Sheikh Nuru Khalid had on Friday last week, during a sermon in Abuja, criticised the government over its failure to tame the escalating insecurity and killings in the country.
No sooner had he made the scathing assessment of the present administration than the mosque committee suspended him for anti-government preaching.
Following this, the Chairman of the committee, Senator Sa’idu Muhammed Dansadau,
accused the Sheikh of inciting public outrage through his sermon.
However, in a letter dated April 4, 2022, the mosque committee informed Imam Khalid that his appointment has been terminated.
According to the committee, a character of Sheikh Khalid’s status should not be seen criticising the government as his remarks could be leveraged-on by the opposition, noting that remarks that were capable of aggravating the current troubling situation should be avoided by leaders of the mosque.
The committee said the reaction of the imam to his suspension did not show any form of contrition and that left it with no other option than to relieve the Sheikh of his duties.
“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”, the letter read.
However, the Imam later said he was not given a fair hearing, adding that he only read about his suspension.
Meanwhile, Shiekh Khalid has said he didn’t regret criticising the insecurity in the country. In an interview with the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) Hausa Service yesterday, the cleric said it is painful that the chairman of the mosque committee that sacked him, Senator Dansadau, hails from Zamfara State, which has a high rate of insecurity.
Sheikh Khalid also said the termination of his appointment by the mosque’s management committee was a necessary price he had to pay for identifying with the sufferings masses and speaking truth to power.
Sheikh Khalid stated this in Abuja yesterday night, adding that he was undeterred by his sack.
He also disclosed that he has been appointed by the Management Committee of a new Juma’ah Mosque behind the Central Bank Nigeria (CBN) Quarters, Abuja, to lead the congregation with effect from Friday, April 8.
The Imam also urged Nigerians not to relent in praying for Nigeria and its leaders.
