By Umar Faruk
Birnin Kebbi, Nigeria, March 8, 2026(Series News Online)
The Kebbi State Government has urged religious leaders to refrain from using their pulpits for partisan politics, instead focusing on preaching moral values, peace, and unity. Commissioner for Religious Affairs, Arc. Muhammad Sani-Aliyu, made the call while addressing newsmen in Birnin Kebbi, following a recent statement by a cleric, Malam Bashir Jega, who compared the salaries of Imams and Limans in Kebbi State unfavorably with those in Sokoto and Zamfara States.
Sani-Aliyu said Jega's comparison was unfair, noting that the Kebbi State Ministry of Religious Affairs was only three years old, while Sokoto and Zamfara States' ministries have been in existence for over 20 and 28 years, respectively. "Kebbi State is doing its best to review salaries and other entitlements, and Governor Nasir Idris is committed to the welfare and well-being of Imams, religious leaders, and Islamic scholars across the state," he said.
"Religious leaders who wish to participate in politics have the constitutional right to do so openly, by contesting elective positions. However, they should leave the pulpit and come out openly to participate in politics, rather than using religious platforms to incite their followers against the government," Sani-Aliyu added.
He emphasized that religious leaders should champion truthfulness, peaceful coexistence, and mutual understanding among citizens. "Religious leaders should guide their followers towards peace, unity, and mutual understanding, which are core teachings of all religions," he said.
Sani-Aliyu implored the public to ignore Jega's allegations, describing him as a "so-called religious leader who refuses to accept being under any leader or group of integrity and recognized by government".
The commissioner highlighted several initiatives, including the Kauran Gwandu Mosques Project 2025, which involves renovating 130 mosques across the state, and the government's subsidy of N1 million for each of the 3,344 pilgrims from the state for the 2025 Hajj exercise. "Religious leaders across the state have expressed appreciation to the governor for his commitment to maintaining the sanctity and development of places of worship," he said, describing the creation of the ministry as a key achievement of the Idris administration.
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Religious