By Our Correspondent

National News – A prominent Sokoto-based Islamic scholar, Mansur Ibrahim Sokoto, has criticised Nigeria’s President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, accusing him of neglecting Muslims and the northern region despite benefiting from their support during the 2023 Nigerian presidential election.

The cleric made the remarks during his Eid sermon delivered on Friday in Sokoto, in northern Nigeria.

According to the scholar, the Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket that helped secure Tinubu’s victory in 2023 was largely a political strategy rather than a genuine commitment to advancing Muslim interests.

Speaking before worshippers during the Eid gathering, Ibrahim said many Muslims now feel disappointed with the administration’s performance since it assumed office.

He argued that although the president relied heavily on Muslim voters during the election, many of them believe their expectations have not been met.

Ibrahim stated that Muslims across the country are facing economic hardship and have yet to see clear policies that prioritise their welfare or address their concerns.

The cleric also alleged that northern Nigeria, which has a predominantly Muslim population, has not received the level of attention many residents expected from the federal government.

According to him, the administration appears more focused on political interests in Lagos and alliances with influential figures rather than addressing broader national concerns.

“Tinubu won the election using the Muslim-Muslim ticket, but Muslims are suffering under him,” Ibrahim said in his sermon.

He insisted that the president’s policies have not clearly demonstrated a commitment to improving the situation of Muslim communities or the northern region.

Ibrahim further urged Islamic clerics and community leaders to reconsider supporting political candidates based solely on religious alignment in future elections.

Instead, he advised that voters should evaluate leaders based on measurable achievements in critical sectors.

He specifically called on Nigerians to assess the government’s performance in areas such as education, healthcare, agriculture, business development, electricity supply, and economic stability before deciding whether to support the president again.

As of the time of filing this report, the presidency had not issued an official response to the cleric’s comments.