Islamic Faith based group under umbrella of Muslim Youth Forum(MYF) has condemned the controversial remarks attributed to Phrank Shaibu, a media aide to former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, concerning the spiritual significance of the Ka’abah in Makkah, Saudi Arabia.
The group described the remarks, reportedly made during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, as insensitive, reckless ,inappropriate and capable of offending the religious sensibilities of millions of Muslims across the world.
Shaibu, who serves as Director of Strategic Communications of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) Presidential Campaign Council, reportedly made the comments on Monday, November 2, 2026, while reacting to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s recent visit to Saudi Arabia to perform Umrah.
Reacting to the development, the Forum expressed concern over what it described as an unfortunate attempt to drag a deeply revered Islamic religious institution into partisan political arguments.
It stressed that matters relating to faith and worship should be treated with respect, responsibility and sensitivity, regardless of political differences.
According to a statement signed by its Coordinator, Alhaji Ahmed Shehu Mohammad, the Forum maintained that the Ka’abah occupies a central position in Islam and represents the direction towards which Muslims across the world turn during their daily prayers. It is also the focal point of the Hajj and Umrah pilgrimages.
The group argued that political disagreements should never become an excuse for making statements that could be interpreted as disrespectful to the religious beliefs and sacred institutions of others.
It further maintained that political leaders and their spokespersons have a responsibility to exercise restraint when discussing religious matters, particularly in a religiously diverse country such as Nigeria.
The Forum stressed that Shaibu’s political disagreement with President Tinubu over his recent Umrah pilgrimage should not be allowed to diminish the spiritual significance of the holy site or create unnecessary religious tension.
It also called on political parties and their spokespersons to focus on critical national issues, including governance, economic development, insecurity, poverty and national unity, rather than making comments capable of generating religious controversy.
The group urged Shaibu and other political commentators to demonstrate greater sensitivity and respect when discussing issues concerning Islam and other religious faiths.
The Northern Progressive Forum noted that freedom of expression, which remains fundamental to democratic governance, must be exercised with a sense of responsibility, particularly when comments have the potential to offend the religious convictions of millions of Nigerians.
It called on Nigerians, irrespective of their political affiliations, to promote mutual respect, religious tolerance and peaceful coexistence, warning against allowing political competition ahead of the 2027 general elections to divide the country along religious lines.
The Forum reaffirmed that political criticism is legitimate in a democracy but must never come at the expense of respect for religious beliefs, sacred institutions and the need for peaceful coexistence.
