religion

The Senior Pastor of Dunamis International Gospel Centre, Paul Enenche, has criticised security agencies for failing to question Islamic cleric, Sheikh Muhammad Jingir, over his recent comments supporting a Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket. Enenche, who spoke during a sermon on Sunday, said authorities should take statements capable of provoking religious tension seriously to prevent possible violence. The pastor rejected suggestions that Christianity should be regarded as inferior to any other religion in Nigeria, stressing that Christians make up a significant portion of the country’s population. He also questioned why security agencies had not invited Jingir for questioning, arguing that allowing potentially provocative remarks to go unchecked could threaten national peace. Enenche urged the authorities to determine whether Jingir’s comments could incite violence and take appropriate action where necessary. He further warned against taking the Christian community for granted, saying Christians had remained peaceful despite what he described as provocative statements. The pastor’s comments followed controversy over Jingir’s recent advocacy for the continued adoption of a Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket. Jingir had urged Muslims to vote in a way that would demonstrate their numerical strength. Jingir later told the BBC that he had no regrets about his position, stating that he had supported Muslim-Muslim presidential tickets long before President Bola Tinubu’s administration. The comments have continued to generate reactions from several Nigerians, including Obidient Movement Worldwide National Coordinator Yunusa Tanko and Nigeria’s Ambassador-designate to South Africa, Femi Fani-Kayode.

Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has defended the use of public funds to support marriage programmes in states operating under Shariah law, describing the intervention as a legitimate aspect of responsible governance. Gumi made the statement in a Facebook post on Thursday, arguing that governments in Shariah-governed societies have a responsibility to assist people who need financial support to get married. He said that where prostitution, fornication, adultery and promiscuity are prohibited by both religious and state laws, public resources could legitimately be used to facilitate marriages for vulnerable individuals. Gumi’s comments followed the Kano State Government’s recent mass wedding involving 1,500 couples under its “Auren Gata” initiative. The ceremony, organised by the Kano State Hisbah Board, was part of the government’s social intervention programme aimed at supporting vulnerable couples and reducing the financial burden associated with marriage. The initiative also seeks to provide economic and household support to help beneficiaries establish their homes and begin married life. The mass wedding, which was held last Friday, has sparked public debate over the use of government funds to finance marriage-related programmes. Gumi, however, maintained that such spending was justified in states where Shariah principles guide governance, particularly where government intervention could help young people and others facing financial difficulties to marry.

Pastor Titilayo Adewale, a daughter of the founder of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pa Josiah Olufemi Akindayomi, has dismissed reports claiming she criticised the church’s leadership over the treatment of her late father’s legacy. In a statement shared on her Facebook page on Monday, Adewale described a widely circulated statement attributed to her as false, insisting she never made the comments. She said the viral post, which alleged that she accused the church of neglecting her father’s contributions and called for greater recognition of his legacy, did not originate from her. Adewale explained that her father was never concerned with earthly recognition or having his name attached to buildings or institutions. According to her, his ultimate desire was for people to attain eternal life rather than celebrate his achievements through monuments. She stressed that the greatest legacy left behind by Pa Akindayomi was the lives he impacted, not physical structures. Reflecting on his values, Adewale said her father believed strongly in investing in people instead of material possessions. She noted that he was reluctant to own personal property during his lifetime, making claims that he sought public recognition through memorials inconsistent with the life he lived. She also alleged that the viral reports were designed to create unnecessary controversy within the church rather than honour her father’s memory. According to Adewale, such narratives are intended to distract from the church’s mission and sow division among members. She urged those responsible for spreading the false claims to desist from circulating misinformation. Adewale concluded by expressing her support for the General Overseer of the RCCG, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, praying for continued wisdom, strength and divine guidance for him, his family and the church’s leadership. She also wished members of the RCCG around the world a successful annual convention.