A presidential aide, Bashir Ahmad, has been severely criticised on Twitter after a 2015 tweet of him expressing support for the death penalty for blasphemy resurfaced on the social media platform.
Ahmad is the Personal Assistant on New Media to President Muhammadu Buhari.
The presidential aide, who hails from Kano, was reacting to the 2015 sentencing of eight men and one woman to death by a Sharia Court in the state for blaspheming Prophet Mohammed.
In the controversial tweet, Ahmad wrote, “I can’t pretend or keep silent. I support the death penalty for BLASPHEMY. That’s my belief and I do not and will never support #SaveKanoNine”
The tweet resurfaced after another man, Yahaya Sharif-Aminu was sentenced to death Monday for committing the same crime.
Like the previous nine convicts, Yahaya is a member of the Tijjaniyya sect, followers of Sheikh Ibrahim Niasse, the Senegalese cleric with a very large following across West Africa.
They had all been accused of elevating Niasse above Prophet Mohammed.
See tweet:
But many commentators bashed Ahmad for his stance, saying it promoted religious extremism.
Read comments monitored on Twitter below:
The statement is so shocking. How can such a person be in government? NIGERIA is a country! 🤷🏾♂️🤦🏾♂️
— Osasu Obayiuwana (@osasuo) August 11, 2020
Do u know that sometimes keeping quiet just saves you alot of trouble??
You are a public servant and shouldn't be found on this street gallivanting on this topic🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄.
Learn to keep quiet, dont contribute just mute.
— candypie (@andreachichi) August 11, 2020
A leopard never changes its spot . Same thoughts yesterday, today and tomorrow. These are people at the helm of affairs brazenly supporting the death penalty for blasphemy but a governor who was caught on camera in Kano state stuffing dollars in his babariga walks scot free.
— Oyeledun Michael (@cmmoyeledun) August 11, 2020
Bashir, we know this is the mindset of majority of you, even if others are timid to air their voices publicly.
Death sentence bcoz of blasphemy is state sponsored terrorism. You are no different from boko haram with your stance.
In reality, no one fights for a true living God. pic.twitter.com/66a5uJ4mP4
— Gentleman (@olajideobe) August 11, 2020
How are you different from Boko Haram then?
— Kọ́lá Túbọ̀sún (@kolatubosun) August 11, 2020
Bashir Ahmad has the same reasoning and dogmas just like @Waspapping_ . Both are extremist per excellence.
— DEMAGOGUE PhD.💘senior advocat🎓 (@von_Bismack) August 11, 2020
See why Boko Haram can never end? They are the ones fueling it.. Hatred for another belief system, yet they claim religion of peace.. 🤡
— Garbii® (@Garbii) August 11, 2020
Did he really blaspheme? The Shariah promotes forgiveness and caution even in the extreme cases where death penalty is demanded. What happened to forgiveness?! What happened to repentance?! Pple like you are misrepresenting the Shariah of Allah and misusing it.
— Mazi Olayinka Danladi (@MaziOlayinka) August 11, 2020
We are dead in this country!! Just take a look at the people in the corridors of power..
come to think of it, if your God is truly powerful like y’all claim, do you really need to fight for him? 🤮🤮🤮
— 🇳🇬 Orebiyi Olátúńbòsúnkànmí (@_igbalodeEngr) August 11, 2020
Boko Haram regularly executes musicians and artists for "blasphemy" in the villages they occupy, citing Sharia Law.
I'd love to know how this is not state-sanctioned terrorism.
What is the difference between the Kano State government and Boko Haram?
Please do tell.
— Uso Nnwa ♈🇺🇸 (@IgboawakeOrg) August 11, 2020
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