The ruling All Progressives Congress, on Tuesday, warned against stoking up ethnic and religious sentiments at a period when President Bola Tinubu is earnestly working to reposition the country.

The APC was reacting to claims by the Supreme Council for Shari’ah Council in Nigeria that Muslims are not benefitting enough from Tinubu’s government.

The council has expressed disappointment over the Muslim-Muslim ticket that brought in the President, citing the political marginalization of Muslims despite their numbers in the country.

Speaking at the Pre-Ramadan Lecture held in Kaduna on Tuesday, Sheikh Abdurrasheed Hadiyyatullah, President of SCSN, lamented that millions of Muslims were politically marginalized in many parts of the country.

According to him, the Council has not seen the expected benefits of having a Muslim-Muslim ticket at the Presidency.

The SCSN President also expressed concern over the socio-economic hardship in the country, which according to him, is becoming unbearable.

He said, “We have seen Nigerians vote for people of the same Islamic faith into the Presidency without turning the country into an unceasing battlefield, but we have not seen justice and equity done to all communities, irrespective of their faith.

“Millions of Muslims are politically marginalised in many parts of the country, despite their numbers and the constitutional demands for justice, and we see a nation growing in indifference over Muslim grievances.

“Nigerians are experiencing severe economic hardship, exacerbated by some government policies. The removal of fuel subsidies has led to soaring costs of living, with food, transportation, and essential goods becoming increasingly unaffordable.”

According to him, the depreciation of the Naira, high inflation, and stagnant wages have further eroded purchasing power.

“The Council has consistently advised the administration on adopting policies to address the hardship. However, it is alarming that, within a short period, the government has introduced multiple new taxes and tariffs, including increased telecommunications tariffs (50%), FOB charges (4% of imports), NPA tariffs (15%), ATM charges (100%), and additional proposed electricity tariff hikes,” Sheikh Hadiyyatullah said.

He noted that the Council remained steadfast in advocating for the easing of the draconian policies to protect the interests of the poor.

The Islamic cleric also expressed concern over the insecurity in the country, particularly the revelations of government-owned weapons falling into criminal hands and the disappearance of 3,907 rifles from the police armoury.

According to him, the Council is deeply concerned by recent developments, especially revelations on government-owned weapons falling into criminal hands and the Auditor-General’s report to the Senate on the disappearance of 3,907 rifles from the police armoury, with no consequences.

“For over two decades, the Council has played a pivotal role in efforts towards addressing insecurity and ethno-religious crises in Nigeria. In the last one year, it has engaged major security stakeholders in the nation, in the security and intelligence community and other strategic actors.

“These developments require urgent and decisive action by the government,” Sheikh Hadiyyatullah added.

The SCSN President emphasized the importance of unity among Muslims, saying that the Council would continue to work towards the unity and progress of the Muslim Ummah in Nigeria.

According to him, the Council will continue to advocate for the rights and interests of Muslims in Nigeria.

“The Supreme Council for Shari’ah has been a longstanding partner in the progress and development of our nation. For over two decades, the Council has actively contributed to Nigeria’s political and socio-economic development, with the unity of the Ummah as the cornerstone of our efforts.

“As a religious body, one of its core objectives is the realization of a prosperous Ummah and a country that is economically, socially, educationally, and politically viable. Despite the formidable challenges facing our nation, we remain steadfast in our commitment to contributing to its success,” Sheikh Hadiyyatullah added. ENDS.

Reacting in an exclusive interview with The PUNCH, the Deputy National Organising Secretary of the APC, Nze Chidi Duru, stated that fixating on religious or ethnic sentiments is a great disservice that should be discouraged in nation-building.

He said, “I am the last person to speak in terms of faith, religion, language and tribal politics. At all times, I’m always of the view that we are one and the same person. Same people who come from the same source. I would never agitate on the account of religion that I should be placed at an advantage over another human being nor would I encourage an effort on the party that would like to use religion to advance their advantage over others.

“So to that extent, I think that the comment being made here does not reflect how to build a nation and how to encourage development and progress. What we should be talking about here is what will be in the overall interest of the people of Nigeria as citizens, as a country, and what will help us to come out of the economic quagmire that we have currently.

“There is also the need to help the government, as is currently being done, by bringing in ideas, thoughts and deeds that will help the government and the states to make progress than begin to again take recourse to matters that have to do with faith and religion and tribe and language in terms of Africa’s strength.”