Northern Islamic cleric Mallam Saleh Muhammad Jimeta has sharply criticised President Bola Tinubu over remarks in which the president reportedly compared himself with Moses and Nigeria with Egypt.
Speaking in Hausa during a Friday Khutbah, or Islamic sermon, Jimeta described the comparison as offensive to Islam and Allah. A recording of the sermon was circulating widely on Facebook on Sunday.
Quick facts
- Mallam Saleh Muhammad Jimeta delivered the remarks during a Friday Islamic sermon.
- He objected to Tinubu’s comparison of himself to Moses and Nigeria to Egypt.
- The cleric said the president’s comments amounted to an insult against Islam.
- Footage of the sermon spread on Facebook and drew sharply divided reactions.
Jimeta argued that Tinubu should not liken Nigeria’s circumstances to Egypt or place himself alongside Moses, whom Muslims recognise as a prophet of Allah.
“May Allah curse him. How can Tinubu compare himself to Moses? Moses was a Prophet. Who is Tinubu to compare himself to Moses? This is an insult to Islam,” the cleric said.
He urged Nigerians to pray against Tinubu’s administration, saying the government had not eased the country’s economic hardship and was now making what he regarded as blasphemous statements.
The video has triggered broad debate on social media. Some Nigerians criticised Jimeta for directing curses at the president, while others backed his position.
