The chairman of the management committee of Apo Legislative Quarters mosque Sen Sa’idu Muhammad Dansadau has announced the dismissal of Sheikh Muhammad Nuru Khalid, two days after suspending him over what it termed “inciting sermon” by the cleric.
Sen Dansadau told the BBC Hausa that the latest decision followed the suspension earlier slammed on the cleric on April 2, 2022.
Read Also: Apo mosque committee suspends Sheikh Nuru Khalid
In a letter signed by Dansadau on Monday, the mosque committee informed Sheikh Nuru Khalid that he was dismissed altogether for refusing to show remorse after his suspension.
The letter reads: “We regret to inform you that from today the 4th day of April 2022 you have been disengaged from the services of the above mentioned mosque. This action is occasioned by the non-remorseful attitude you exhibited following your suspension on 2nd April this year.
“Akaramakallah, you know better than me by the teaching of Islam, the essence of administering punishment is to correct behavior. Unfortunately, your media reaction to the suspension creates the Impression that you are not remorseful, NOT to talk of humbly reflecting on the consequences of your utterances.
“Leadership demands a great sense of responsibility. If our words do more harm than good to larger interest of the country or the public, we have a responsibility to [apply] maximum restraint for the good of public. It is obvious, however, that you don’t seem keen to modify your Friday sermon to be reflective of the volatility of security situation in the country.
“You are an influencer; your words carry a lot of weights, your words can make or mar our situation. Your words can be taken advantage of by mischief makers, those responsible for these security challenges or enemies of the country for their devilish agendas.
“As leaders of the mosque we have a sacred responsibility to avoid utterances that are capable of making a bad situation worse. This is our fear and concern.
“Our decision is informed by our obsession to promote peace in the country. Vie are not oblivious of the implication of our action in view of the penchant of many Nigerians for critique of government of the day.
“We however believe no sacrifice is too much for the committee members to disengage you as part of our contribution to ensure peace prevails in our motherland, no matter the gravity of the consequences because we are convinced that you have no intention to change the mode of your sermon in the course of Friday prayers.”
Dateline Nigeria reports that the suspension of Sheikh Nuru Khlaid, popularly known as Digital Imam, drew condemnation across social media platforms with many showing support for the cleric.
The cleric had also told the BBC that he would rather become a porter than refuse to tell truth to power.
