Kebbi gov’t warns religious leaders against incitement

The Kebbi State Government has warned religious leaders in the state against any preaching that may incite the public against the government. The government said the administration of Governor Nasir Idris has contributed significantly to the development of Islam for the overall progress of the state, maintaining that claims suggesting otherwise were unfounded, misleading and […]

The Kebbi State Government has warned religious leaders in the state against any preaching that may incite the public against the government.

The government said the administration of Governor Nasir Idris has contributed significantly to the development of Islam for the overall progress of the state, maintaining that claims suggesting otherwise were unfounded, misleading and a deliberate distortion of reality aimed at inciting the public.

It urged religious leaders in the state to remain focused on their primary responsibility of guiding and educating the public spiritually rather than allowing themselves to be drawn into political antagonism capable of misleading the people.

The Commissioner for Religious Affairs, Muhammad Sani Aliyu, made the remarks during a press briefing in Birnin Kebbi.

He said recent criticisms attributed to an Islamic preacher, Malam Bashir Jega, regarding the state of religious affairs in Kebbi were misleading.

Jega had claimed that nothing had been done for religion in the state under the present administration.

But the commissioner said the claim was incorrect and ignored the achievements of the government, including the creation of the Ministry of Religious Affairs. “It is an important milestone that fulfilled a long-standing aspiration of the people of Kebbi State for more than twenty-five years,” he said.

He added that successive administrations in the state had been unable to establish a ministry to coordinate religious activities until the present government demonstrated the political will to actualise it.

According to him, the government has also strengthened key religious institutions, including the Zakat and Waqf Board, the Preaching Board and the Hisbah Commission.