The One Plateau, One Voice group has criticised Islamic cleric Sheikh Sani Yahaya Jingir over comments attributed to him in support of a Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The group’s convener, Dogo Nanzing, said Jingir had no authority to speak on behalf of the people of Plateau State or claim that the state supported the All Progressives Congress (APC) Muslim-Muslim ticket.
Speaking on Saturday during an appearance on The People’s Movement, a podcast hosted by Jos-based broadcaster and comedian Osama Apkunonu, Nanzing described Jingir as a resident of Plateau but not an indigene.
“Yahaya Jingir is not one of us. He is not from Plateau. He is a settler and a resident on the Plateau, but not an indigene,” Nanzing said. (TheNigeriaLawyer)
He also rejected the suggestion that Jingir’s political position represented the views of Muslims in Plateau State.
According to Nanzing, the cleric had increasingly presented himself as a spokesperson for Muslims in the state, while making statements which, in the group’s view, could heighten religious and political tensions.
Nanzing alleged that Jingir was speaking for himself and not for the wider Muslim community or the Izala movement.
“Yahaya Jingir is only speaking for himself, his family and his pocket. He is not speaking for Muslims, and even as a leader of an Islamic sect, he is not speaking for the entire Izala movement,” he alleged.
The comments followed recent remarks attributed to Jingir in which he backed the Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket and urged Muslims to support candidates of their faith.
Nanzing said such views should not be presented as the collective position of Plateau residents, describing the state as politically and religiously diverse.
He also referred to the reaction of the Plateau State chapter of Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI), which he said had distanced itself from a statement by an individual associated with its media structure that appeared to support Jingir’s position.
“JNI came out and disclaimed it completely. They distanced themselves from Jingir’s position. That tells you clearly that he is speaking for himself,” Nanzing said.
The group further called on religious and political leaders to exercise restraint in their public statements and avoid presenting personal political preferences as the position of an entire community.
Nanzing also urged the Plateau State Government and other stakeholders to consider measures against public statements that could promote hatred, hostility or division among residents.