‘No Threat towards Remi Tinubu’, Says Bauchi Cleric Abdul’aziz

Denying any threat towards the president’s wife, Oluremi Tinubu, controversial Islamic cleric Idris Abdul’aziz, the chief imam of Dusten-Tanshi Jumma’ah Mosque Bauchi, addressed the allegations at his first public appearance following his return from self-imposed exile.

In his closing remarks for this year’s Ramadan commentary on the Holy Qur’an in Bauchi, he clarified, “I have no association with her at all and I’m not even sure of her actual name. I have never made any remarks about her husband, the president, let alone her. The president’s wife is not a concern for me. This was a smear campaign orchestrated in Bauchi to create discord between me and the president’s wife, instigated by two groups.”

Abdul’aziz dismissed the accusations as an attempt to tarnish his reputation, stating, “I challenge those responsible for this to present authentic video or audio evidence where I threatened the president’s wife.”

Earlier in February, a viral video circulated alleging that the cleric had suggested Nigeria’s First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, deserved death for her Christian beliefs. He was also accused of calling the Muslim-Muslim ticket that propelled President Bola Tinubu to power a deceit.

Despite the threat, the First Lady remained undeterred, asserting that at the age of 64, she had no fear of death. These remarks were made during her visit to Bauchi to inaugurate some projects in the state around March.

During the first lady’s visit, Governor Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed expressed his disapproval of the threat, labeling it as unacceptable. He offered an apology to Mrs. Tinubu, assuring her of safety in the state and vowing to take appropriate action against the cleric accountable for the intimidation.