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Want Him Arrested, Prosecuted
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As Cleric Asks Northerners To Elect Leader That Won’t Kill Bandits
Controversial Kaduna-based Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi has come under heavy criticism over statement admonishing the northern electorate to vote for candidates that won’t kill the marauding bandits.
The cleric who became prominent due to his sympathy for bandits wreaking havoc in the northern part of the country again made divisive statement, telling the northerners to vote for candidates who would negotiate with terrorists.
The cleric in a trending video was heard describing bandits as warriors, staying that they should not be killed.
He said “Don’t vote for those who will fight bandits. The fighters are our warriors in the forest…Our people in the forest. So, vote for those who after attaining power will call and negotiate with our people (bandits) so as to give them what they want for peace to reign”.
Reacting, National Publicity Secretary of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Alex Ogbonnia, said Gumi should be arrested and interrogated because he has been a security threat to Nigeria.
“For a long time, we have called for the arrest of that man because he has been a security threat to this nation, but unfortunately, the President and Commander-in-Chief, Muhammadu Buhari, has not done anything about that hence such an issue continues to rear its ugly head.
“When there is an indication of a security threat anywhere, you nip it in the bud. So, we have been calling for his arrest and interrogation. I am not saying that he should be prosecuted but he should come out from where he is because he is not helping the country in any way,” he said.
He described Gumi’s latest statement as unfortunate coming from somebody of his status.
“The statement is not in tandem with democratic culture which allows people to vote according to their conscience. You don’t use religion and all these unnecessary sentiments to divide the people. If Nigeria is rated low in anything including economy, investment destination and all that; it is bandits and kidnappers that are responsible. So, anybody that is patriotic should rise against it. For Gumi to be talking this way is a serious problem. So, he should be arrested and interrogated to serve as deterrent to some other people that may harbour such feelings,” he said.
National Publicity Secretary of the pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, Jare Ajayi noted that Gumi is supposed to be a leader but he has unfortunately misguided his followers by trying to justify banditry and terrorism.
“It is on record for instance, that when pressures were being mounted on President Muhammadu Buhari to dub bandits wreaking havoc in the country as terrorist, Gumi, on October 25, 2021, called on the President not to do so as bandits should be rehabilitated rather than be condemned or tried.”
Ajayi said Gumi has continued to defend bandits because he has not been questioned over his previous utterances and actions such as negotiating with terrorists etc.
“Had this been done, Gumi would not have the effrontery to be telling Nigerians now not to vote for a president who is likely to bring terrorists to justice.”
He advised the north to be wary of Gumi for describing bandits as ‘our people’ who must be protected.
“For it is on record that the highest number of victims of banditry and terrorism in the past years are Northerners. If those bandits consider the people as their own, why would they be killing them, sending them away from their ancestral homes and preventing them from practicing their vocations including farming etc? It is ironical indeed that Dr Ahmed Gumi could be describing those killing innocent people as ‘our people.
“Were justice made to be the order of the day in Nigeria, Gumi would not have the temerity to advise potential voters not to vote for a candidate who is likely to bring bandits and terrorists to justice,” Ajayi concluded.
Here are some other reactions harvested from Twitter;
“Nigerians are angry that Gumi said they sh¤uldn’t vote for politicians who will k!ll terr¤rists, but same Nigerians were unbothered when their favorite 2023 candidates were paying a courtesy call to Gumi & snapping joyful pictures; They called it a good strategy. C¤nfused cl¤wns,”(@DanielRegha)
“DSS arrest this religious extremist Gumi,if he can warn govt not 2 fight kidnappers & bandits that they’re his men/warlords/veterans rather they should b call 4 dialogue. I ask how many times did govt dialogue with DOGO GIDE & Bello TIRJI, they’re still killing & kidnapping pple,”(@AbubakarAAliyu)
“Now that Gumi, a Northern leader, has affirmed terrorists as their ‘warriors’, you might ask: Warriors against who? Christians & Southerners? #EhaAmufu?Apparently!
Why would any person want to belong to a nation where one half sees terrorists as warriors? #Tufiakwa!,”(@AloyEjimakor)
“I don’t blame Gumi, I blame the irresponsible government that allow the bandit in the name of Islamic Cleric to be walking freely. I am sure that there is a candidate promising not to stop bandits. Shall the North ever be free from their own curse?,”(@_realkingsely).
