Abuja Imam Suspension: Group berates politicians refusal to succumb to criticism, demands his reinstallation

By Bukola Hameed

A human rights group in Nigeria, Ta’awunu Human Rights Initiative (THURIST) has berated Nigerian politicians for their stark refusal to accept criticism and demanded for the reinstallation of the suspended Abuja mosque Imaam.

The Chief Imam of Apo Mosque was suspended by the Mosque committee of Apo legislative quarters, Abuja following a Friday sermon by the Imam, calling Nigerians not to vote in the 2023 General Election if insecurity is not defeated by the Government.

The group in a release made available to News Live Nigeria said, “it is unbelievable that despite the increasing insecurity in the country and the recent Kaduna-bound bombing, politicians in Nigeria refuse to succumb to criticisms, waylaying free press and barricading freedom of expression.

It is important to state at this juncture however, that such politically motivated suspension in a country guided by the rule of law is totally outrageous, fallacious and fictitious as the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which is the grund norm excuses all Nigerians on expression of personal opinion, Public opinion and Free press as provided inter alia by Section 39(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended that “every person shall be entitled to freedom of expression, including freedom to hold opinions and to receive and impart information without interference …”.

Notably, the enactment of the Freedom of Information Act (2011) in Nigeria has enhanced the enjoyment of rights to freedom of information thereby strengthening people’s right to opinion and expression.

We doubt what the mosque committee will tell a court of competent Jurisdiction to justify their suspension in the event of such.

Ta’awunu Human Rights Initiative (THURIST) condemns, in the strongest term, the suspension of Chief Imam Sheikh Nuru Khalid by the committee of Apo legislative quarters, Abuja as such suspension smells more of impunity and abuse of power by the concerned authority.

To this effect we demand a reversal of the suspension and reinstalling the Chief Imam to his rightful position”, it concluded.