President Bola Tinubu is frantically soliciting governors to induce Islamic clerics in their respective states with largesse during the Ramadan fasting period, particularly to ask them to refrain from preaching sermons that can turn the people against his government and trigger turmoil amid widespread hunger, insecurity and economic crisis assailing his tenure.
Tinbu appealed to the governors “to leverage the auspicious opportunity of the Ramadan period to promote peaceful co-existence.” This leveraging, sources confirmed to PG involves providing largesse to the clerics and CSOs.
In a confidential memo sent on the president’s behalf by Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) George Akume to all 36 governors on February 27, Tinubu stated that he desired to “sensitise” radical Islamic clerics from leading “inciting sermons during the upcoming Ramadan,” anticipated to commence March 10.
“As part of the measures, Islamic preachers were being sensitised to moderate and avoid comments capable of misleading their followers or pitching them against the Government,” the memo stressed.
“This is necessary considering the increasing calls by various groups including, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), for mass action over the rising cost of living and insecurity across the States of the Federation.”
The so-called sensitisation was aimed at dialling down the rage citizens felt towards the government through sermons that encourage peace and forbid demonstrations at a time when the nation was facing its worst cost-of-living crisis.
“It would be appreciated if Your Excellency could engage religious leaders, CSOs and other critical stakeholders particularly, the Nigeria Council of Ulamas at both the state and the local government levels to leverage the auspicious opportunity of the Ramadan period to promote peaceful co-existence in the country,” Tinubu pleaded through his SGF.
According to the report, some states said they would follow the recommendation and induce clerics and civil rights groups with largesse to deploy a measured tone at this critical period for the country.
Some critics have recently said the president is facing public denunciation because he did not have a strong mandate to begin with, having scored only 36 per cent of the vote cast during last year’s presidential election. However, the administration has rejected such a notion as unfounded.
With PG report
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