By Emmanuel Nduka
Worried by rising insecurity in the country, Chief Imam of Apo Legislative Quarters Mosque, Abuja, Sheikh Nuru Khalid, has charged Nigeria’s President, Muhammadu Buhari to wake up to his responsibility and address the challenges facing the country.
The angry Imam warned the president to return the country to how he met it in 2015, or risk maximum punishment form Allah.
Speaking on the president’s failure to tackle banditry in the country, the cleric in a viral video, swore that Allah (God) will deal with the Buhari if he doesn’t return Nigeria “united and without bandits”.
The Imam while addressing worshippers during his Friday sermon, said Buhari must ensure that he ended the menace before leaving power.
“Go and tell the President that under his government some groups of people are issuing threats to local communities, demanding that they should be paid some amounts of money or face attack.
“And they would gather the money and announce publicly on the BBC that they (bandits) would be paid this Friday [to avoid attack].
“The president should either return the country as one nation where bandits are not killing people anyhow — just the way he took over, or Allah (God) will deal with him.
“This is the message. I’m saying this in an open forum, and it is live-streamed for the world to see. I take responsibility for my words, and I’m ready to face whatever consequences for preaching peace and unity of Nigeria,” he said.
“We have a video in which you said Nigerian soldiers had the patriotism, training, and discipline to tackle all manner of criminality in the country. You said if you were elected, you would give them the required support to tackle insurgency in a short time.
“Your Excellency, a promise made is a promise kept. If you lack the advisers to remind you of this, we are ready to tell you. We are praying to God to help you fulfil this promise if really you are willing.
“The president of the federal republic of Nigeria, you have failed us. You have been given four years in addition yet you have underperformed, people are dying like fouls, killing is becoming norm in Nigeria under your watch. If there is no Nigerian to tell you, I will tell you.
“Is there no person to take responsibility? I don’t want to believe that we have all failed, I mean I failed as an imam, to teach you that life is sacred you all failed aspirants to teach your children that killing is bad. You all failed community leaders, politician, governors failed especially, the president of the federal republic of Nigeria you have failed us.
“I’m telling you Mr. president that you are to take responsibility, we have it in the Quran,” he added.
