“He Must Be Mad” — Oyedepo Slams Sheikh Jingir Over Claim Nigeria Is an Islamic Nation

Living Faith Church founder rejects Islamic nation assertion as Islamic cleric denies hate speech allegations and maintains support for Muslim-Muslim ticket

Bishop David Oyedepo, founder of Living Faith Church Worldwide, has strongly rejected suggestions that Nigeria is an Islamic nation, describing anyone who holds such a view as “mad.” The cleric made the comment during his Sunday service, weighing in on the ongoing debate over Nigeria’s religious identity that has intensified ahead of the 2027 general election. “Watch Redemption Camp, watch Salvation Ministries, watch Dunamis watch various churches in Nigeria and somebody will stand and say Nigeria is an Islamic nation. Is he mad? Yes, he must be mad,” Oyedepo said. To back his position, the bishop cited the scale and visibility of major Christian churches across the country, arguing that their large congregations and nationwide activities undercut any claim that Nigeria is an Islamic state. Oyedepo further stirred attention with a cryptic prediction, declaring that “there shall be strange happenings between now and the next 12 months in Nigeria,” without elaborating on what this would entail.

Oyedepo’s comments came in response to remarks attributed to Sheikh Sani Yahaya Jingir, Chairman of Jama’atu Izalatil Bid’a Wa’ikamatis Sunnah (JIBWIS). Jingir had spoken at a mass wedding organised by the Kano State Government for 1,500 couples, where he publicly declared his support for President Bola Tinubu’s Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket ahead of the 2027 presidential race. At the event, Jingir reportedly argued that Muslims constitute the majority in Nigeria and maintained that the country belongs to Muslims. “My candidate is Bola Ahmad Bola Tinubu. The President selected a Muslim as his vice. I am one of those who called people to support the Muslim-Muslim ticket,” Jingir was quoted as saying. He further stated: “I know some non-Muslims don’t like the word Muslim-Muslim. As a Muslim who preaches Islam, if I support Muslim-Muslim, what is my offence? What have I done wrong? I don’t stop anyone who believes or supports another candidate from doing the same.”

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Amid the growing backlash, Jingir has denied claims that he harbours hatred towards Christians, describing such allegations as “mere lies” and insisting that his recent comments were misunderstood. The Islamic cleric made the clarification while speaking at a one-day national symposium in Jos themed “Enhanced Political Participation and Social Justice as a Panacea for Unity and Development in Nigeria.” “A lot of people are saying I dislike Christians. I didn’t say I dislike Christians. It is a lie. My remarks were misinterpreted. Leadership in Islam is not about cheating people of different faiths. Islam teaches us to share love with people of different faiths or sects,” Jingir said. He explained that Islam promotes love, fairness and justice, regardless of religious affiliation, adding that Muslims would be held accountable for mistreating non-Muslims. The cleric further called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, state governors and other political leaders to govern with fairness and justice, regardless of religious or political differences. “I call on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu not to cheat non-Muslims and Muslims alike. I also call on you not to cheat those who are not in the same political party with you. You should lead with justice and fairness to all Nigerians,” he said.

Jingir also defended Nigerians’ right to support candidates of their choice during elections, saying, “Everyone has the right to vote for whoever he feels is okay with him to vote for during an election.” He cited his support for a Christian governorship candidate in Plateau State as evidence that his political choices were not motivated by religious hatred. “Everyone has the right to vote for whoever he feels is okay with him to vote for during an election. I have once voted for a non-Muslim as governor in Plateau State, and I voted for him against another Christian contestant, whom I felt would not do justice to all manner of people, including Muslims,” he said.

Oyedepo’s public rebuke adds another prominent religious voice to an increasingly sensitive debate over religion, political representation and national identity as political activities ahead of the 2027 elections intensify. Critics have accused Jingir of using his religious position to influence political choices and deepen religious divisions ahead of the 2027 elections. The timing of the remarks makes them particularly sensitive as Nigeria approaches the 2027 general election, with political actors already positioning themselves for what is expected to be a highly competitive electoral contest.

Two Killed, Three Officers Injured as Gunmen Attack Police Patrol in Osun

Two civilians have been killed while two police officers sustained serious injuries after suspected political thugs attacked a police patrol team along the Ibadan-Ife Expressway in Osun State, triggering a war of words between political parties over the violence.

The attack occurred at approximately 11:00 a.m. on Monday when officers from the Ikire Divisional Police Headquarters, accompanied by the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), responded to a distress call over the alleged abduction of a man identified simply as Sunkanmi. According to the Osun State Police Command Public Relations Officer, DSP Abiodun Ojelabi, the officers came under sudden gunfire from unidentified hoodlums shortly after arriving at the location. The assailants reportedly opened fire on the officers while they were inside their operational vehicle and succeeded in dispossessing them of an AK-47 service rifle. The hoodlums allegedly used the stolen rifle to shoot indiscriminately, killing two civilians in the process.

The victims were identified as 49-year-old Nurení Sobowale from Odeda Area of Abeokuta and 43-year-old Saheed Akinrole of Adeagbo Compound, Ikire. Two police officers also sustained serious injuries during the attack and were initially taken to a nearby hospital for emergency treatment before being transferred to the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, for further medical attention. The attackers reportedly drove away in the police patrol vehicle but later abandoned it. The vehicle was subsequently recovered with several bullet holes and a shattered windscreen. Nine spent ammunition shells were recovered at the scene and secured for forensic analysis, according to the police. The remains of the two victims were deposited at the Oluyoro Catholic Mortuary, while their families were informed of their deaths.

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The incident has triggered a war of words between political parties in the state. The All Progressives Congress (APC) accused Governor Ademola Adeleke of failing to protect residents, alleging that armed thugs linked to the Accord Party were responsible for the attack. In a statement, the Osun APC Media Cluster coordinator, Oluwafunsho Fagbohungbe, said: “This was not a mere street brawl. It was a calculated, armed attack on public safety and constitutional authority. When the Divisional Police Officer of the Irewole Police Division responded to a distress call after an APC member was abducted and taken to a motor park for torture, these hoodlums turned their weapons on law enforcement. Officers were assaulted, and service rifles were snatched from police personnel.” The APC also called on the Inspector‑General of Police to deploy maximum force to reclaim Ikire, secure all local government secretariats, and recover all stolen police weapons. It further alleged that the violence was coordinated and sponsored by Senator Lere Oyewumi, the Deputy Senate Minority Leader.

However, the Accord Party rejected the APC’s account and blamed the incident on the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Irewole Division, Mr Bamidele Olatona. The state Chairman of the party, Mr Victor Akande, alleged that the DPO opened fire at the motor park without provocation. “Eyewitness accounts confirm that the Divisional Police Officer of Irewole Division, Mr Bamidele Olatona, personally stormed the public garage and opened fire sporadically into a crowd of unarmed civilians,” Akande said. He denied that there was any attempt by a group to take over the motor park, insisting that normal activities were ongoing before the incident.

While police confirmed two deaths, the APC claimed that five people—three commercial drivers and two passers‑by—were killed in the melee. The Coalition of Civil Society Organisations for Good Governance also alleged that five people were killed, while the Ikire Concerned Youths put the death toll at two, including a commercial bus driver and a passenger. These conflicting accounts could not be independently verified. The violence reportedly erupted over an alleged attempt to take control of the Naira and Kobo Motor Park in Ikire, with rival groups of commercial transport workers allegedly aligned with different political parties. Sources said drivers loyal to one party had been in control of the park until drivers from another party arrived and attempted to take over the facility.

Osun State Commissioner of Police, CP Ibrahim Zungura, who visited the scene shortly after assuming duty, ordered a comprehensive investigation into the attack. He directed the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the State Criminal Investigation Department to lead the probe and ordered the immediate deployment of tactical and intelligence personnel to the area to identify, track, and arrest those responsible. The command condemned the attack and the killing of the two civilians, urging residents along the affected axis to remain calm and vigilant. It also appealed to members of the public with useful information about the attackers to report to the nearest police station. The police assured residents that security operations had been intensified along the Ibadan-Ife Expressway and other parts of the state to restore normalcy and prevent further attacks.