A former presidential aide, Bashir Ahmad, has reacted to a growing controversy involving an Islamic scholar and a pastor, stressing that both sides acted wrongly and urging respect for the law.
In a post shared on X, Ahmad said he had been tagged by many people over reports that a scholar placed a bounty on a pastor who allegedly insulted Prophet Muhammad (SAW).
He noted that such a sensitive matter requires careful explanation and proper context.
He said: “I have noticed that many people are tagging me in posts about a scholar who placed a bounty on a pastor who publicly insulted our master, our revered Prophet (SAW). I understand that addressing such a sensitive issue without proper context and thoughtful explanation is inadequate.”
Ahmad made it clear that he does not support the actions of either party.
According to him, the pastor’s remarks were offensive and insensitive, especially considering how deeply Muslims revere the Prophet.
He said: “In the meantime, let me be very clear that both actions are wrong. The pastor should not have insulted our Prophet (SAW), while fully aware of the deep reverence Muslims have for him and how strongly they hold his honor.”
At the same time, Ahmad criticised the Islamic scholar for taking matters into his own hands instead of following due process.
He stressed that individuals should not resort to personal actions in such situations.
He added: “At the same time, the scholar was also wrong to take matters into his own hands, the appropriate course of action would have been to report the matter to the authorities and allow the law to take its course.”
There has been a growing uproar, especially on social media, after an Islamic cleric placed a N1 million bounty on a pastor who took to social media to insult Prophet Muhammad and all that Islam stands for.
Security agencies are yet to comment on the growing concern and the direction the matter is taking.
