Kano State government has debarred a famous Islamic cleric, Sheikh Abduljabar Sheikh Nasir Kabara from preaching in the state over alleged incendiary preaching.
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The state’s Commissioner of Information, Malam Muhammad Garba, who made the announced shortly after the Executive Council Meeting, said the cleric’s mode of teachings was considered too incendiary, hence the decision.
Garba also announced that all seminaries run by the clergyman would be shut down pending completion of investigation by security agencies.
The commissioner stated that the council had directed all broadcast stations and social media platforms to abstain from airing of such enflaming preaching, sermons, propagation and any other religious discussions in the interest of peace and tranquility in the state.
Garba added that security agencies had also been directed to ensure full compliance and take decisive action against any person or group found flouting the order.
Daily Telescope recalled that Sheikh Kabara, who is a junior brother to the leader of Qadiriyyah sect in the state, Sheikh Qaribullah Nasiru Kabara, was showed in a video clip that went viral on various social media platforms castigating followers of other Islamic sects.
Some residents, who spoke to Daily Telescope expressed happiness over the decision taken by the state government, saying it was timely in order to prevent chaos among members of various Islamic sects in the state.
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Alhaji Aminu Ibrahim said: “The decision is in order because if the issue not tackle at infantry level, it may lead to anarchy. How can he just come out publically castigating followers of other sects? This is not the type of preaching we expect from an Islamic scholar of his caliber.
“We have no doubt that he is an educated person and from an educated family, but that does not mean he can descend on followers of sects because their ideologies are different from his.
“Will he be happy if followers of other sects also come out and castigate his followers? He should respect the ideologies of other sects.”
Muhmmaad Abdallah Inuwa, said government has done the right thing, lamenting that “it is better to take this harsh decision on him than to allow people to take laws into their hands.
“Everybody knows the nature of Kano state. Before you know it, the statements of the cleric can lead to serious anarchy in the state. However, now that government has taken the right decision at the right time, followers of other sects will allow government to deal with the situation amicably.”
Contrary to Ibrahim and Abdallah’s views, Sulaiman Isyaku was of the opinion that the decision taken by the government was harsh, noting that such decision would make preaching in the state difficult.
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“I believe the man has listening airs, therefore government should invite him for a meeting and allow him to expatiate his statement and from there if government is not satisfied with his stand then it can take decision on him.
“Even at that seminaries of the cleric should not be shut down because he too has followers and such decision can equally provoke them. And at least, the clergy and his followers have right to worship anywhere in the country. So, their places of worship should not shut down.”
