Gumi Speaks on Alleged Religious Bias Affecting South-West Politics

Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, an Islamic cleric, has said that politics in the South-West geopolitical zone of the country is based on an irrational fear of Muslims and Islam.

He also wanted to be exempted from “dirty local politics” in the zone, following the controversy generated by his visit to Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

The cleric made his position known in a Facebook post on Tuesday against the backdrop of reports that the abductors of 46 schoolchildren and teachers in the Oriire local government area of Oyo State on May 15 had demanded the implementation of Sharia law in the state as one of the conditions to release the captives.
But one of the victims in a video released by her captors Monday vigorously debunked the report of the implementation of the Sharia.

Mrs Rachael Folawe Alamu, who spoke from captivity, said the armed gunmen made no demand for Sharia nor ransom payment of N1 billion as reported in some quarters.

They only asked for the release of their comrades who were in the hands of the Nigerian authorities, she added.

Also, a major Islamic group, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), debunked the alleged Sharia demand in a press statement on Monday.

Reacting to MURIC’s statement, Gumi said, “I quite understand now how Islamophobia is shaping politics in SW and why I was unnecessarily dragged into their dirty local politics.

“I was in Ibadan not on invitation of any SW Muslim individual or group but as a representative of the Coalition of Northern Muslim Ulama.

“Is there anybody that can stop me going anywhere in Nigeria?

Some people have weird thoughts!

“I think that the whole saga is tele-guided by both foreign and local interests to promote a narrative and polarise the country.”