The North West Muslim Elders Forum has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to completely ignore and dismiss the recent outbursts by the President of the Supreme Council for Shari’a in Nigeria (SCSN), Dr. Bashir Aliyu Umar, describing them as reckless, deceptive, and motivated purely by personal interest rather than national good.
The Forum condemned Dr. Bashir Aliyu Umar’s call for the removal of the INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, stating that such a demand is not only baseless but a calculated attempt to undermine democratic institutions for selfish political objectives.
According to the elders, Dr. Bashir’s attack on Federal Government policies, especially tax reforms, is a deliberate attempt to incite public anger and discredit the Tinubu administration. They stressed that these policies are reforms aimed at accountability and national development, not an assault on the poor as falsely portrayed.
The Forum accused Dr. Bashir Aliyu Umar of attempting to blackmail the Presidency into intervening in the Kano emirate crisis in order to protect the personal interests of his close associate, Emir Sanusi Lamido Sanusi. They described this as an abuse of religious influence to pursue political loyalty.
They further alleged that Dr. Bashir Aliyu Umar’s sudden opposition to tax policies is a diversionary tactic meant to draw attention away from questions surrounding the large sums he collects as school fees from parents at the private institution he owns and operates.
The North West Muslim Elders Forum warned Nigerians against being misled by individuals who hide behind religion to promote personal agendas, urging President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to remain focused on governance and reforms while ignoring politically motivated distractions masquerading as religious advocacy.