Following the suspension of Sheikh Muhammad Nuru Khalid, the Chief Imam of the National Assembly Legislators’ Quarters Mosque in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja has confirmed he has been appointed by the Management Committee of a new Jum’mat Mosque behind the Central Bank Nigeria (CBN) Quarters, Abuja.
Barely 24 hours after the suspension of Sheikh Khalid, Senator Saidu Dansadau, who was acting in his capacity as the Chairman of Mosque Committee at the Apo Legislative Quarters in Abuja, announced that the Sheikh had been expelled from the Mosque for his ‘lack of remorse’.
The Imam had reportedly said that he would rather be an Alabaru (load carriers for pay) than to desist from telling the truth, which very much angered the Mosque Committee.
Reacting to the news of his expulsion from the Mosque, the Imam said “the termination of his appointment by the mosque’s management committee was a necessary price he had to pay for identifying with the sufferings masses and speaking truth to power.”
“My sack is a reflection of how Nigeria is today. Many people are hiding under the cover of religion to perpetrate all manner unwholesome acts.
“Such people would stop at nothing to take away people like me, who are pro-masses and bold enough to speak the truth to power always on behalf of voiceless Nigerians.
“This is the price we pay for aligning with the people and identifying with their sufferings,” he submitted.
Khalid is expected to commence leading the congregation with effect from Friday, April 8. Sheikh Khalid was suspended on Saturday, 2 April 2022 for criticising the President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari in his Ramadan preaching on Friday, 1 April, was quoted expressing his displeasure over the president’s disposition towards the Abuja-Kaduna train attack incident. In some of his words:
“Everyone condemned the incident, except the bandits. So condemnation is not enough. The president should visit the state to sympathise with the victims.”
“The president has been to Kaduna for campaigns but couldn’t go to the state on a sympathy visit,” he had said.