Sheikh Kabiru Haruna Gombe, a popular Islamic preacher has said that it is not a crime for him to publicly campaign for any political candidate of his choice as a bonafide citizen of Nigeria.
The Sheikh’s comments came after other Islamic clerics criticised him for being at the vanguard of the movement for the actualisation of the 2023 ambition of APC Presidential candidate Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Islamic clerics in Nigeria expressed displeasure over recent preaching sessions of the Gombe-born preacher where he was quoted selling Tinubu’s candidature to his followers, arguing that it is completely archaic for clerics who occupy the natural position of being custodians of public morality, integrity, justice and fairness in the society to be deeply involved in sentimental and partisan politics.
Sheikh Gombe in an interview with DCL Hausa, an online TV news channel, said that he is an Islamic preacher does not condemn him to poverty, destitution and joblessness.
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“It is not a sin for me to be enmeshed in politics as a cleric in so far as my intention is clean and good. Religious clerics are not the only set of people that most maintain a positive public image. Everyone does.
“Anybody who campaigns to set up a government does so out of faith, belief and confidence but the ultimate is that at the end of the day when victory is accomplished, they would be rewarded either with contracts or other forms of political gratifications.
“As clerics, don’t we deserve to be given contracts by the government being citizens who make contributions towards victory during electioneerings?
“I am not saying the government gave us contracts. But if that happens, it is going to be for the benefit of society,” he said.
Sheikh Gombe who preaches under Jama’atul Izalatil Bidi’a Wa Iqamati Sunnah (JIBWIS) said other Islamic clerics outside their sect campaigned and prayed for politicians in their sermons and preachings but were not attacked for such actions because they have limited effects on their followers.
“If a cleric is not chid for being actively involved in politics, it is because their impact is not felt in the society,” he insisted.
In 2015, Sheikh Gombe and other Islamic clerics campaigned for President Buhari. after his victory, the president appointed Dr Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, who is a member of JIBWIS as Minister of Communications.
Since then, many religious clerics fully plunged into partisans politics with some of them going the extra mile to contest for elective positions.
