Ahead of the 2027 general elections, over 1,000 Islamic clerics have urged President Bola Tinubu to urgently review his economic policies or drop his re-election bid.
The clerics made the call in a communique after a national conference in Kano on Sunday, themed “An Assessment of the State of the Nation under President Tinubu and the 2027 General Elections.”
The conference was organised by a group under the umbrella of Ko Da Naka for the Struggle to Promote Good Governance and Community Development, in collaboration with AFAQ Educational Foundation.
Citing the rising hardship and cost of living in the country, the participants said the reforms of the Tinubu-led administration have brought untold hardship to Nigerians.
The clerics expressed concern over current economic challenges, including the impact of fuel subsidy removal, naira exchange-rate reforms, increases in electricity tariffs and tax reforms, which they said had increased hardship on ordinary citizens.
“It is unfortunate that the government has continued to insist on pursuing these policies, which are increasing hardship among the people, rather than reviewing and correcting them,” the communique said.
“The government prioritised growth of its revenue at a time when rising cost of living and unemployment are threatening lives and well-being of citizens.”
The communique stated that participants agreed it would be inappropriate to re-elect the government in 2027 if it did not review policies that they considered harmful to citizens.
It added, “Alternatively, the President should refrain from contesting the 2027 election. If he refuses to do so, it is incumbent upon citizens to reject his candidacy and allow those whom they believe can provide better leadership.”
The participants also expressed concern over killings, kidnappings and other security challenges in parts of the country, and called on the government to take urgent action to address insecurity, particularly in the North-West and other affected areas.
The clerics further expressed concern over the departure of Nigerian doctors, teachers, engineers and other skilled professionals, which they linked to unemployment, inadequate facilities, poor working conditions and the economic situation.
They urged the government to improve salaries, working conditions and professional development to encourage the retention and return of skilled Nigerians abroad.
The communique urged religious scholars to speak truth to power, defend justice, commend what is good and criticise what is wrong, and called on Nigerians to assess candidates in 2027 based on experience, integrity, competence and policies capable of delivering relief, prosperity, security and development.
Some of the clerics who presented papers included Dr Abdulmuɗɗalib Ahmad Giɗaɗo, Prof. Muhd Muslim Ibrahim, Sheikh Kabir Bashir Abdulhamid, Dr Aminu Isma’il Sagagi, Dr Najibullah Abdallah Nuhu, Sheikh Abdurrazaq Uba Musa, Sheikh Musa Muhd Ɗan Kwano, Barr. El-Zubair, Dr Yahuza Getso, Prof. Ibrahim Siraj Adhama, Dr Umar Dokaji and Sheikh Muhd Sani Khamis (Abu Haisam).
