Nigeria's Ambassador to South Africa, Femi Fani-Kayode, has said Islamic cleric, Sheikh Yahaya Jingir, will live "to eat his words for referring to Christians as infidels."

Jingir had called Christians infidels while delivering a speech to promote the Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket of the ruling All Progressives Congress. Seated at the event and cheering on was Governor Abba Yusuf of Kano State.

The cleric also called Nigeria a Muslim country, to the displeasure of an equal population of Christians who disputed his claim.

When called out, Jingir said, "I won't apologise, I have zero regrets about the things I said, and I will still continue saying this anywhere. Anybody that doesn't like it can say what they want, but I don't care."

Reacting, Fani-Kayode said, "We are past that stage in this country and I, for one, can NEVER share a platform, be in a party or have any form of fellowship with a misguided individual who claims to be a cleric but who preaches hate.

"We must not cross the red line of religious extremism or intolerance because it diminishes us all as God-fearing Christians and Muslims who both believe in one God.

"The Christians of Nigeria are hurt and offended by Jingir's remarks, and though we are relieved that the Muslim community have stood with us on this, it cannot end there.

"We have children, we have grandchildren, we have wives, we have dependants, and we have mentees that look up to us, and not only has Jingir insulted us ALL but he has now said he has "no regrets" for doing so.

"He has no regrets, no remorse, no decency, no shame & no place in today's Nigeria.

"I call on His Eminence the Sultan of Sokoto and the President of our beloved country, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to publicly caution him before it is too late."