The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has challenged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima to publicly reject a reported declaration by Islamic cleric, Sheikh Sani Jingir, that a Muslim-Muslim presidency is ideal because Muslims constitute the majority of Nigerians.
HURIWA described the reported statement as a dangerous appeal to religious majoritarianism capable of worsening Nigeria’s already fragile religious and political fault lines ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In a statement issued on Tuesday by its National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Nnadozie Onwubiko, the rights group said the silence of the President and Vice President was becoming as troubling as the statement itself.
The organisation warned that continued silence could be interpreted as tacit approval or political endorsement of the position attributed to Jingir.
“President Tinubu and Vice President Shettima must speak to dispel this weighty but divisive hate-filled rhetoric,” HURIWA said, demanding that both leaders publicly distance themselves from the statement.
The group argued that Nigeria belongs equally to Muslims, Christians and adherents of other faiths, stressing that no religious group has a constitutional claim to political supremacy.
According to HURIWA, the argument that religious numerical strength should determine the character of Nigeria’s presidency is fundamentally inconsistent with democratic principles and equal citizenship.
“Democracy is not religious majoritarianism. Majority status does not confer superior citizenship. Muslims are not more Nigerian than Christians, and Christians are not more Nigerian than Muslims,” the organisation said.
HURIWA reiterated its longstanding opposition to a same-faith presidency, saying its position was based on the need to promote inclusion, balance and confidence in a religiously diverse country.
The group warned that allowing religious majoritarian rhetoric to go unchallenged could have serious consequences for the 2027 elections, particularly in areas already affected by insecurity and communal tensions.
It urged the government to act before inflammatory rhetoric becomes a catalyst for political or religious violence.
HURIWA also called on the Department of State Services (DSS), Nigeria Police Force and other relevant authorities to examine the reported statement and determine whether it violates laws relating to hate speech, incitement or religious discrimination.
The rights group questioned whether influential religious figures were being held to the same standard as ordinary Nigerians when making potentially inflammatory statements.
“There must be no sacred cows in the enforcement of laws against hate speech, incitement and religious discrimination,” it said.
HURIWA then posed a direct question to Tinubu and Shettima: “Do you agree that a Muslim-Muslim presidency is ‘ideal’ simply because Muslims constitute the majority?”
It said that if their answer was no, they should state so publicly and without equivocation, adding that silence was no longer acceptable.
“The President and Vice President were elected and appointed to serve all Nigerians, not a religious constituency,” HURIWA said.
The organisation urged the two leaders to reject what it described as religious supremacy, defend equal citizenship and uphold the constitutional character of Nigeria.
“Break your silence. Reject religious supremacy. Defend equal citizenship. Defend the Constitution. Defend Nigeria,” it said.