Political activist and Islamic scholar, Dr Usman Bugaje, has described the Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket as a “fraud”, accusing politicians of using religious identity to mobilise Muslim voters without addressing the insecurity, poverty and other challenges affecting their communities.
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Bugaje spoke at a one-day summit organised by the Islamic Forum of Nigeria in Kano, which brought together Islamic scholars, professionals and other stakeholders to discuss issues affecting Muslims in the country.
The summit, themed “Dilemma of Muslims in Nigeria: The Way Forward,” focused on insecurity, poverty, religious discrimination, governance and the impact of government policies on citizens.
According to Bugaje, the presence of Muslim leaders in government does not automatically translate into protection of Muslim interests or improvement in the welfare of Muslim communities.
He argued that religious representation in government should be assessed by the quality of governance, security and improvements in citizens’ living conditions rather than merely by the faith of those occupying public offices.
Bugaje pointed to persistent insecurity, economic hardship and other social challenges as evidence of what he described as failures of political leadership.
He accused politicians of promoting the Muslim-Muslim ticket primarily to secure electoral support while failing to deliver meaningful improvements in the safety and economic well-being of the people.
The scholar also raised concerns about the security situation in parts of northern Nigeria.
He alleged that Boko Haram insurgents continued to operate around Maiduguri, where, according to him, they collected taxes and conducted court-like proceedings to settle disputes among residents.
Bugaje also described the security situation in Sokoto State as disturbing, claiming that residents travelling from the state capital to Isa Local Government Area could undertake the journey only twice a week with support from the Joint Task Force.
He said such developments raised serious questions about the ability of political leaders to protect citizens and secure the country’s territory.
Bugaje further expressed concern over Nigeria’s dependence on imported medicines, claiming that about 70 per cent of drugs used in the country were imported.
He called for greater investment in local pharmaceutical production, arguing that developing domestic industries and protecting Nigeria’s territorial integrity were essential to achieving genuine national independence.
The Islamic scholar also warned about increasing drug abuse among young people and women, saying the trend posed a serious threat to the social and economic well-being of Muslim communities.
Bugaje maintained that political and religious leaders must focus less on symbolism and identity politics and more on practical solutions to insecurity, poverty, economic dependence and other problems affecting citizens.
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