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Sheikh Jingir’s Muslim-Muslim Ticket Comment Is His Personal View, Says Baba Yusuf
Political strategist and Group CEO of Global Investment and Trade Company, Baba Yusuf, has strongly criticised comments attributed to Islamic cleric Sheikh Ahmad Jingir on the Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket, describing the position as a personal opinion that should not be allowed to deepen religious tensions in Nigeria.
Yusuf said the cleric’s comments were troubling, particularly because of his influence and standing within the Muslim community. He argued that someone who has spent decades in Islamic scholarship and leadership should be fully aware of the weight his words carry, especially in a country as religiously and ethnically sensitive as Nigeria.
According to Yusuf, Sheikh Jingir is entitled to his personal views, but such views should not be presented in a manner capable of worsening divisions among Nigerians.
“Sheikh Jingir’s statement on the Muslim-Muslim ticket belongs to him, his belly and his pockets,” Yusuf said, questioning the motivation behind the cleric’s position.
He went further to describe the statement as religiously divisive, warning that comments from influential religious figures can have consequences far beyond the immediate political debate.
“The statement reeks of religious bigotry, and a leader of that stature, given the length of time he has been an Islamic cleric, should know that just a word from him can sink Nigeria. It is unacceptable,” Yusuf said.
His comments come against the backdrop of growing political arguments over religious balancing and the possibility of another Muslim-Muslim ticket ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
The issue remains particularly sensitive in Nigeria, where religion has often played a significant role in political mobilisation and voter behaviour. While supporters of a Muslim-Muslim ticket argue that competence and political capacity should take precedence over religious considerations, critics maintain that religious balance remains important in a country with a deeply divided political and religious landscape.
Yusuf’s reaction therefore adds another voice to the increasingly heated debate over how political parties should approach religion, representation and national unity ahead of 2027.
He urged political and religious leaders to exercise restraint and remember that their public statements can influence millions of Nigerians. According to him, the country needs responsible leadership that promotes understanding rather than rhetoric capable of widening existing religious and political fault lines.
