A prominent Islamic cleric, Sheikh Alkali Abubakar Salihu Zaria, has been suspended by the leadership of Jama’atu Izalatil Bid’ah Wa Iqamatis Sunnah (JIBWIS), Jos faction, following a controversial Ramadan sermon in which he sharply criticised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and several political leaders over the worsening security situation in northern Nigeria.
The cleric had been invited to Damaturu, Yobe State, to lead the annual Ramadan Qur’anic exegesis, popularly known as Tafsir, at the Mokas Mosque. However, his sermons soon sparked debate after he openly condemned what he described as the failure of political authorities to confront the rising wave of banditry and kidnappings across the region.
According to reports, the decision to suspend Sheikh Alkali was reached after a meeting convened by the National Chairman of the JIBWIS Council of Ulama, Sheikh Muhammad Sani Yahaya Jingir. The meeting brought together the cleric alongside state and local representatives of the organisation in Yobe State to review the remarks delivered during the Ramadan sessions.
During one of his sermons, Sheikh Alkali spoke emotionally about the suffering of communities affected by insecurity. He described the experiences of kidnapping victims, saying many were treated brutally by abductors while families struggled to negotiate ransoms for their release.
He painted a grim picture of the situation, lamenting that people were being abducted and traded “as though they are cattle,” with victims often beaten and humiliated in captivity.
The cleric also criticised what he said was a growing culture of fear among political leaders, arguing that some governors appeared more concerned about political authority than spiritual accountability.
In his remarks, he accused certain leaders of failing to act decisively against the insecurity plaguing northern communities and questioned the political environment in which, according to him, party affiliation often determines how individuals are treated.
His statements, which included direct criticism of President Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress, were considered by the organisation’s leadership to be inconsistent with its established approach to public preaching.
Following the decision to suspend him, Sheikh Alkali responded calmly, saying he accepted the ruling in good faith. In a message shared on his Facebook page, he described Sheikh Muhammad Sani Yahaya Jingir not only as a religious leader but also as a father figure whose authority he respects.
He urged his followers, relatives, and associates to remain disciplined and loyal, encouraging them not to react negatively to the development.
According to the cleric, the outcome was part of a divine plan, adding that no one can go beyond the time allotted to them by God to carry out their duties.
The incident has since generated conversations in religious and public circles, highlighting the sensitive intersection between faith, leadership, and political commentary in Nigeria’s public space.
