Less than five days to the 2023 presidential election, influential Tijjanniya leader, Sheikh Dahiru Usman Bauchi, has reportedly instructed millions of followers to vote for any candidate of their choice.
Bellnewsonline.com reports that Sheikh Dahiru, 95, is the most prominent Islamic cleric in Northern Nigeria. During the electioneering, the top presidential candidates, Pete Obi, Atiku Abubakar and Bola Tinubu visited his home in Kaduna State.
A former lawmaker, Senator Shehu Sani, confirmed Sheikh Dahiru’s directive via a Twitter post on Wednesday morning.
The most prominent Islamic cleric in Northern Nigeria,Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi told his millions of followers to vote for any candidate of their choice.His statement gave each of his adherent the free will to bear the consequences of his or her vote.
— Senator Shehu Sani (@ShehuSani) February 22, 2023
“The most prominent Islamic cleric in Northern Nigeria, Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi told his millions of followers to vote for any candidate of their choice. His statement gave each of his adherent the free will to bear the consequences of his or her vote,” Sani wrote.
Dahiru Bauchi is deputy chair of the Fatwa Committee of the Supreme Council Of Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) in Nigeria.