By: Abdullahi Inuwa
Residents of Madina Quarters in Bauchi metropolis have challenged claims by Dahiru Abubakar, popularly known as Jejiwe Danmalam, that he was removed from a neighbourhood mosque because of his support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election bid ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The residents disputed Abubakar’s description of himself as the mosque’s imam, insisting that he was not the substantive religious leader but only led prayers when the recognised imam was unavailable.
Abubakar, however, maintained that his political stance in support of Tinubu contributed to his removal from the mosque, where he said he occasionally led prayers and delivered sermons.
A resident familiar with the controversy, Ibrahim Muhammad, described Abubakar as a comedian whose political affiliations, according to him, had changed over time.
“Everybody knows ‘Jejiwe Danmalam’ as a comedian and controversial figure. He works for almost any political party,” Muhammad said.
He alleged that Abubakar had previously criticised Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC) over the economic hardship in the country before declaring support for the president.
Muhammad suggested that the controversy might be connected to Abubakar’s changing political positions, although he did not provide independent evidence to establish the circumstances surrounding the reported removal.
He also maintained that the mosque already had a recognised imam, arguing that Abubakar only stood in to lead prayers when necessary.
Another associate of Abubakar in the neighbourhood corroborated the residents’ position, saying he was not the mosque’s substantive imam.
“He is not the substantive imam of the mosque. He only leads prayers when the actual imam is absent. That is all,” the associate said.
Similarly, Adamu Garba, who said he lived along the street near Barden Gabas School, where the mosque is reportedly located, questioned the description of Abubakar as the mosque’s imam.
Garba said residents had heard about the controversy but disputed the claim that Abubakar held the substantive position.
Abubakar Insists Political Support Led to Removal
Despite the objections raised by the residents, Abubakar insisted that he was removed from the mosque because of his support for Tinubu.
He also clarified that the facility was a small neighbourhood mosque rather than a Jumu’ah mosque, where congregational Friday prayers are held.
“Yes, it is true that I was removed from the mosque where I used to lead prayers and deliver sermons from time to time. This happened as a result of my support for Bola Tinubu,” he said.
Abubakar explained that his public defence of the president, particularly on issues relating to Nigeria’s security challenges, had created disagreements with some members of the community.
According to him, some of his critics considered his support for Tinubu excessive.
He also identified a disagreement over a proposed change to the mosque’s name as another factor that contributed to the dispute.
Abubakar said he had proposed renaming the mosque from “Abdurrahman Bin Zuhairu” to “Sheikh Imam Bola Ahmed Tinubu Mosque”, a suggestion he acknowledged was not well received.
“The second reason for my removal is that I requested that the mosque be renamed ‘Sheikh Imam Bola Ahmed Tinubu Mosque’. That suggestion was not well received,” he said.
The proposal reportedly became another source of disagreement, although the precise circumstances surrounding the decision to remove him remain contested.
Residents Urge Verification of Claims
Muhammad cautioned journalists and members of the public against accepting or circulating unverified claims, particularly as political activities gather momentum ahead of the 2027 elections.
He argued that political differences should not be allowed to undermine religious institutions or turn places of worship into platforms for personal or partisan interests.
He also suggested that the controversy could attract public attention at a time when political mobilisation is increasing across the country.
Abubakar, however, rejected suggestions that his support for Tinubu was motivated by financial benefits or a desire for publicity.
He maintained that his position was genuine and vowed to continue supporting the president ahead of the 2027 general elections despite criticism from some residents.
The disagreement has left two competing accounts of the incident: Abubakar’s claim that his political support contributed to his removal and the residents’ insistence that he was never the mosque’s substantive imam.
The circumstances surrounding the reported removal, including the role of the mosque’s recognised leadership and the extent to which political disagreements influenced the decision, remain unresolved based on the accounts provided.
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