Northern Christian Association chairman criticizes cleric's comments on Muslim-Muslim ticket and Christians
Rev. Joseph Hayab, chairman of the Northern Christian Association NCA, stated that President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima were not elected solely by Muslims in the 2023 general elections. Hayab's comments were in response to Islamic cleric Sheikh Sani Yahaya Jingir, who defended the Muslim-Muslim ticket for 2027 and suggested Muslims should not apologize for supporting candidates of their faith due to their population. Jingir reportedly described Christians as "infidels" and urged Muslims to unite politically. Hayab, speaking on Channels Television, called Jingir's remarks unacceptable, noting that the 2023 presidential election saw the Tinubu-Shettima ticket receive support from Christian-majority states. He emphasized that the Muslim-Muslim ticket had raised concerns among Christians who sought balance and fairness. Hayab also criticized Jingir's use of the term "infidels" for fellow Nigerians, stating that such derogatory language for political gain is inappropriate. He added that Jingir's comments exposed the long-standing experiences of persecution, marginalization, and religious dominance faced by Christians in the North, which are often dismissed. The NCA chairman expressed concern that political leaders present during Jingir's statement did not immediately rebuke him, but instead appeared to cheer. Hayab asserted that this incident ended the pretense about allegations of persecution and discrimination against Christians in Nigeria. He challenged the
