Islamic Preacher Alleges Tinubu Govt Gave N500Billion Bribe For Northern Clerics, Says He Declined
A northern Islamic cleric has alleged that President Bola Tinubu’s All Progressives Congress (APC) has earmarked ₦500 billion to mobilise Muslim clerics and traditional rulers in the North for the 2027 presidential election.
The cleric, whose identity could not be immediately verified by SaharaReporters, said the party approached him to lead the campaign project, but that he declined.
He described being invited to take part in the mobilisation effort, and the financial terms reportedly offered.
“They invited me to join the campaign and project. They said whoever leads the project will get five per cent of the N500 billion. They told me we know you don’t do such things, but because of the circumstances and the situation, we are inviting you to take the lead, and so on,” the cleric said.
The cleric said he refused when the party suggested he speak with a pastor in charge of the Christian part of the project.
“I rejected the offer and warned them never to bring such a proposal to me again,” he added.
“They now said I should let them call the pastor, and so I could speak to him, I said no, I’m not and can’t be part of the project.”
The cleric didn’t mention the names of those who approached him for the project, but outlined the sums allegedly involved in the mobilisation, noting that Christian leaders were also to receive allocations.
“Five per cent of N500 billion is N25 billion, this is just from the part of the Muslims, the Christians too will also have theirs,” he said.
The cleric also described his experience with exchanges between clerics and government officials.
“I’m talking from experience, you see any cleric being controversial and afraid to say the truth, there must be an exchange between them and the government in power. I will not be tired of giving instances,” he said.
He further emphasised the role of clerics in instructing voters during elections.
“Voting too is an act of worship, and the clerics should endeavour to tell the electorate what to do and what they need to, and protect our dignity at all costs,” he said.
