From Jibrin Miachi, Kaduna (The New Diplomat’s Northern Bureau)
Sheikh Ahmad Abubakar Gumi has raised alarm that his effort to broker peace between bandits terrorising the Northwest part of the country and the Nigerian government has been sabotaged.
The Kaduna-based Islamic Cleric, who often sparks controversy over his action in negotiating with the bandits, worries insecurity in Nigeria may last longer than expected if the government continues to politicise the issue.
Nigerians have continued to lampoon Gumi for going into the bandits’ enclaves and for demanding amnesty for aggressors, who have reportedly killed thousands and collected huge ransoms from victims of their incessant abductions, but the cleric insists military action alone will not put an end to the bandits’ reign of terror.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with The New Diplomat, Gumi disclosed that “there is too much politicization of this security problem and people are also putting their personal interest in the issue”.
Thus, he declared that “some people are benefiting from the security challenge that is facing us as a nation and as a people. We have the power to do and undo what is necessary but unfortunately, they are not looking at it holistically.
“The truth about it is that, security needs the cooperation of everybody devoid of politics, regional, ethnic and religion sentiments” stressing that “somebody who is shot and killed in a moving vehicle can be anybody.
“Anybody can therefore be victim of these wicked people living within and around us”, he said recalling “Custom officers among others were killed just last week, this week.
“Of recent, we have seen how some Fulani boys went and killed a custom officer in his house and now reprisal attack is going on in villages killing people. From all indications therefore, one may ask, where is your effort of trying to negotiate?
“Somebody may ask that question naturally but I wish to say that “my effort was sabotaged. However, we don’t and will not lose hope. We are still going to see peace coming to Nigeria, God willing.
“We will not get tiered, we will continue because, mayhems carnage, killings, massacre cannot continue. Life must continue and I said, we hope and see Nigeria coming back when we will have the right atmosphere, the right leadership and the people have already learnt lesson from killing each other like what happened in Rwanda.
“In Nigeria, I think we should understand that we have nowhere to go and we cannot eliminate one for other. We have to be together and live civilizable without forcing anybody to adopt anybody’s religion or culture. No, be yourself, live and let live. I think we are getting to that really”, he said.
Speaking further, Gumi said Nigeria is in a state of war but described the experience the people are passing through as “subtle and not open war that is going on. It is not religion, it is ethnic” stressing “when you hear of clashes in South West, it is between Yoruba, Fulani and Hausa, when you hear clashes in Zamfara or Kaduna it is between Fulani and Hausas, when you hear in Borno, Boko Haram, it is essentially Borno people and other tribes in the state.
“Truly, there is war but subtly and not open even as anybody, anywhere can be shot and killed. Thus therefore, we are praying for God to restore peace and sanity in our land. We have tasted sanity before. Now we are struggling and praying for God to make it possible for us to return to our olden days”.
Speaking on his effort to broker peace between bandits and government, Gumi explained that his concern for Nigerian and Nigerians made him to consider the controversial move.
He said with the prevailing security situation in the North Eastern zone, and the displacement of millions of people, many people are now living from hand to mouth as there is no hope of pulling them out the present predicaments any time soon.
“This has pushed us to go out into the bush to see these people and tell them that God does not allow killing of people and to tell them to be law abiding, tell them that there are even people here to listen and talk to you. We will talk to them. They are not telling us lies. We will try to see the authority after they are gone.
“But our problem today is the authority itself, to tell you the truth, and that makes our mission appears to be unproductive because violence begets violence, blood for blood but if you kill innocent person, something will happen to you. You cannot kill innocent person and go free. This is the message we send to them.
“We told them don’t kidnap people, nothing will happen to you from the authority. In the bush, there are too many hamlets and innocent people that are suppressed by these bandits and hamlets.
“If you go there with your military might, you tell them kill civilians innocently. So, the best thing is peace reconciliation. Honestly, government should be responsible enough to say come, put down your weapon, we are brothers, and we will help you, come back and be good citizen.
“If that is done, there would be reconciliation. Good wards, gentle wards, wards of encouragement and hope as against wards of kill them, arrest them, we don’t negotiate are what we need at this level, otherwise, you know their weaknesses, they will go on rampage and innocent people will suffer for it. This is what we are saying”.
Asked what was his level of discussion with government in this respect, Gumi retorted: “you see, I don’t go to the banditry except I go with government official at the background. Wherever I go, I go with government officials and sometimes, I move with Police so that I will exonerate myself, nobody can call me negotiator of bandits, criminals or their spokesman.
“People should note that I am not alone in this struggle. I always go with government officials but they are not decision makers. Those of the decision making are the ones that have different perception of the situation all the while.
“There is no permanent situation in life. Whether they do it or not, somebody will come and do it because peace must prevail. So, people should be prayerful and be patience. Nigeria is surely going to be peaceful.
“The end of this ugly situation will definitely come but there have to be some changes – changes in our behavior towards the problem, changes in the behavior of the people ruling.
“So, we have a maximum of two years to continue with our experience until when we will have a new dispensation that can look into the matter and approach it appropriately. But if this one can change and do the right thing, the problem will be over and the country would be better.
“They said we will put down our arms but don’t come back and start arresting us. We want empowerment. We have never benefited from anything of government like government COVIID – 19 palliative. Criminals came and rustled their cattle, who is going to take care of them? This is their complain and concern.” Gumi said.
