CAN breaks silence over Sheikh Jingir’s Muslim-Muslim ticket comment

The Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Joseph Hayab, has called for moderation and respect in public discussions, particularly concerning religious and political matters. This statement came during an interview on Channels Television’s ‘The Morning Brief’ where Hayab addressed a recent comment by Islamic cleric Sheikh Yahya Jingir.

Jingir, featured in a video on social media, suggested that anyone who disagrees with a Muslim-Muslim ticket should leave Nigeria, as Nigeria belongs to Muslims. According to Hayab, while past statements were offensive, the addition of the derogatory term 'infidel' exacerbated the situation. He emphasized the need for honest dialogue with open-minded individuals and clerics, urging a return to more moderate discourse.

"We have always been tolerant of this, and I want to take us back," he stated. "We have had the worst of these statements. But we have to be moderate. We have to be careful when we come to public space. Honestly speaking, if Jingir had said, 'look, let's vote for our Muslim brothers to show we are strong', it wouldn’t have been offensive than adding the term 'infidel'."

Hayab noted that while Christians have been familiar with such issues for a long time, they remain committed to addressing these challenges with tolerance and understanding.