Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has accused some governors of targeting people suspected of supporting his political activities, alleging that an Islamic cleric suffered punishment over his association with him.
Atiku claimed that an imam was removed from his position after conducting a Muslim prayer session which he attended during a visit.
The ADC presidential candidate raised the allegation on Saturday while visiting the Emir of Bauchi, Alhaji Rilwanu Suleiman Adamu, as part of his political engagements in the state.
He praised Governor Bala Mohammed for permitting him to meet the monarch, noting that opposition politicians were allegedly denied similar opportunities in some states.
Atiku lamented what he described as growing political interference in traditional institutions, arguing that disagreements among politicians should not affect the relationship between elected officials and traditional rulers.
He said, “The ugly trend has reached a point where an imam at a mosque where I prayed was suspended by the governor.”
The former Vice-President maintained that traditional rulers, particularly emirs in Northern Nigeria, should be allowed to exercise their recognised authority over religious and traditional affairs without undue interference from political office holders.
He argued that governors and other elected officials would eventually complete their tenures, whereas traditional rulers remained custodians of the people's heritage, pledging to protect their institutional authority if elected president.
