The sky didn’t fall when I asked Jonathan to resign, says sacked Imam

Sheikh Nuhu Khalid, founder, Islamic Research and Da’awah Foundation, says his criticism of government’s inefficiency is not new.

The cleric, who was removed as the Chief Imam of Apo Legislative Quarters Central Mosque in Abuja after he criticised the Buhari administration, said the sky did not fall when he condemned insecurity under ex-President Goodluck Jonathan.

• Apo mosque’s pulpit once used to campaign for Buhari – Sacked Imam  
• Anti-govt sermon If it’s sinful to demand safe Nigeria, I’m ready for hell, says Imam

The cleric said this when he appeared on Daily Politics, a programme on Trust TV.

Daily Trust had reported how the Sheik was suspended and subsequently fired after delivering a sermon on insecurity.

In the sermon, the Sheik had said, “Nigerian masses should resort to only one term which is – protect our lives, we will come out to vote; let us be killed, we will not come out to vote, since it’s only elections that you people know.”

After the mosque committee suspended him, the Sheik popularly known as “Digital Imam” on social media had said he was not given fair hearing.

He had also said only God can enthrone or dethrones.

Subsequently, the mosque committee relived him of his duties, saying he showed no remorse after his suspension.

Speaking on the programme, the Imam said he had no regrets for his utterances.

He said, “I’ve nothing to lose. For this, I stand by my words. I will rather die of hunger than be quite when people are killed. Trains are attacked and roads are blocked and (there is) bloodletting everywhere.

“I live in a local area. My children go to public schools and I relate with local people. Therefore I know the difficult situation the people of this country are going through.”