By Christiana Gokyo, Jos
The Plateau State Chapter of Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) has dissociated itself from a purported statement attributed to the organisation concerning Sheikh Sani Yahaya Jingir and the Muslim-Muslim ticket, describing the publication as fake, unfounded and not representative of its position.
In a statement signed by the Publicity Secretary of JNI Plateau State, Gambo Hamza, the organisation said Sheikh Sani Yahaya Jingir, as an Islamic scholar and religious leader, is entitled to his personal opinions and views on matters of public interest.
However, it stressed that such personal positions should not be misconstrued as the official position of Jama’atu Nasril Islam.
According to the statement, JNI is a broad-based Islamic organisation primarily concerned with promoting peace, unity, religious understanding, moral values and the welfare of Muslims, while fostering peaceful coexistence among Nigeria’s diverse religious and ethnic communities.
It said the organisation does not ordinarily take sides in partisan political contests or endorse particular candidates, political parties or political arrangements.
“JNI Plateau State neither endorsed nor authorised any statement purporting to support Sheikh Jingir ‘100 per cent’ in relation to the Muslim-Muslim ticket or any other partisan political position,” the statement said.
The chapter therefore completely dissociated itself from the publication and urged members of the public, the media and social media users to disregard it.
JNI expressed concern that the purported statement could have been deliberately fabricated to create religious tension, misrepresent the organisation’s position and undermine the longstanding efforts of religious leaders and organisations to promote peaceful coexistence on the Plateau.
“JNI Plateau State remains committed to dialogue, mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and the responsible exercise of religious freedom,” it said.
The organisation further cautioned that differences of opinion, including those expressed by individual religious scholars, should not be weaponised to create division between Muslims and Christians.
It called on members of the public to exercise caution before accepting or circulating unverified statements attributed to the organisation, while urging media organisations to verify such claims with the authorised leadership of JNI before publication.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the statement circulating under the name of JNI Plateau State is NOT an official position of the organisation, and JNI Plateau State hereby distances itself from it in its entirety,” the statement added.
The chapter also clarified that JNI does not have any position designated as “Special Adviser on New Media” and has no official known as Abdulsalam Ahmad.
The organisation consequently dissociated itself from the individual and any statement purportedly issued by him in its name.
JNI Plateau State further called on relevant security agencies to thoroughly investigate the matter, identify and apprehend the person responsible for the alleged false representation and prosecute the individual in accordance with the law.
