The Leader of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Primate Elijah Ayodele, has criticised the Federal Government over its alleged failure to respond to recent remarks attributed to Islamic cleric, Sheikh Sani Yahaya Jingir.
Ayodele called for Jingir to be arrested over the comments, warning that allowing religious leaders to make inflammatory statements without consequences could threaten peaceful coexistence in Nigeria.
The controversy followed a video circulating on social media in which Jingir was reportedly reacting to discussions surrounding the Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket.
According to reports, the cleric said individuals who did not accept the Muslim-Muslim arrangement should leave Nigeria.
Jingir was also reported to have referred to Christians as “infidels” in the video.
Reacting to the development in a video posted by Tunde Ednut, Ayodele alleged that the government would have reacted more swiftly if similar comments had been made by a Christian cleric.
“If the government does not caution this, then Christianity is in trouble in Nigeria. This senseless old fool, Islamic cleric Jingir, should be in jail by now.
“If a Christian had made such a statement, they would have picked him up immediately,” Ayodele said.
The cleric urged the administration of President Bola Tinubu to caution Jingir and other religious leaders against making statements that could heighten religious tensions.
Ayodele further warned that failure to address inflammatory rhetoric could pose a threat to peaceful coexistence, social harmony and national unity.