The National Youth Leader of the African Action Congress (AAC), Comrade Yahaya M. Abdullahi, has called on Nigerians, particularly the youth, to reject what he described as the “dangerous politics of religious division, hatred and manipulation” being deployed by political actors and influential personalities to advance their interests.
Abdullahi made the call in a statement on Monday while reacting to recent public comments attributed to the prominent Islamic cleric, Sheikh Sani Yahaya Jingir, particularly his repeated references to “Muslim-Muslim” politics and statements which, according to the AAC youth leader, appeared to frame political victory through a religious lens.
He warned that Nigeria could not afford to deepen its existing religious fault lines at a time when the country was battling insecurity, poverty, unemployment, economic hardship and growing public frustration.
According to him, religious leaders wield enormous influence over millions of Nigerians and should deploy that influence to promote peace, justice, compassion and peaceful coexistence rather than encourage suspicion and hostility between citizens of different faiths.
“Recent public comments attributed to Sheikh Sani Yahaya Jingir, particularly his repeated references to ‘Muslim-Muslim’ politics and language that appears to portray political victory through a religious lens, are deeply concerning,” Abdullahi said.
“Nigeria is already facing insecurity, poverty, unemployment and widespread frustration. This is not the time to turn Muslims and Christians against one another.”
The AAC National Youth Leader maintained that Nigeria’s religious diversity should be regarded as a strength rather than a political weapon, stressing that Muslims and Christians had lived together for generations, shared communities, built businesses together and raised families across religious boundaries.
He warned against allowing politicians and religious personalities to exploit those relationships for political advantage.
“Nigeria belongs to all of us. Muslims and Christians have lived together for generations, shared communities, built businesses together and raised families together. We must not allow politicians or religious personalities to destroy that bond for political advantage,” he said.
Abdullahi further urged young Nigerians to refuse to become instruments in what he described as the religious and political calculations of influential individuals.
He argued that Nigerians should assess political leaders based on integrity, competence, commitment to justice, respect for human rights and their ability to protect every citizen, rather than their religion or ethnic background.
The AAC youth leader consequently called on Nigerian youths to move beyond what he described as the “old politics of religion, ethnicity and political patronage” and support Omoyele Sowore as part of efforts to build what he termed a “New Nigeria.”
“Sowore represents a political alternative centred on accountability, human rights, freedom, justice and fundamental reforms,” he said.
“Whether you are Muslim or Christian, Northern or Southern, young or old, your future depends on a Nigeria where government serves citizens rather than divides them.”
Abdullahi said Nigeria’s youth population represented a formidable force capable of determining the country’s political direction if properly mobilised and politically conscious.
He, however, cautioned youths against allowing themselves to be manipulated by politicians and influencers who, according to him, benefit from religious and ethnic divisions.
“The Nigerian youth constitute the largest force for political transformation in this country. We must use our numbers, our voices and, most importantly, our votes to reject politicians and influencers who profit from division,” he said.
He questioned the continued reliance on religious considerations during elections, arguing that such politics had failed to resolve the fundamental challenges confronting ordinary Nigerians.
“We cannot continue voting based on religion while insecurity destroys our communities, unemployment destroys the future of our young people and corruption continues to impoverish the nation,” Abdullahi stated.
He stressed that religion and ethnicity should never determine a Nigerian’s access to justice, opportunity or political representation.
“Our religion should never be used to determine who deserves justice. Our ethnicity should never determine who deserves opportunity. And political disagreement should never make Nigerians enemies,” he said.
Abdullahi therefore urged Nigerians, particularly young people, to unite across religious and ethnic lines and use their votes to reject what he described as divisive politics.
He called for a new political culture in which competence, justice, freedom, accountability and the welfare of citizens take precedence over religious and ethnic calculations.
He said Nigerian youths must make their votes count by choosing leaders who can offer a credible alternative to the country’s longstanding political problems.
“Vote for competence. Vote for justice. Vote for freedom. Vote for a New Nigeria. Vote Sowore,” the AAC National Youth Leader declared.