Popular Islamic cleric, Ahmad Gumi, has responded fiercely to the heavy criticisms surrounding his official visit to Ibadan, dismissing allegations that he was promoting an Islamisation agenda. The cleric insisted that no individual or political group can prevent him from traveling to any part of the Nigerian federation.
Gumi stressed that his historic visit to the ancient city of Ibadan was not at the personal invitation of any Muslim organization or individual in the South-West. In a detailed Facebook publication released on Tuesday, the cleric explained that he attended the event as a formal representative of a coalition of northern Islamic scholars.
The cleric visited Ibadan to serve as the guest speaker at the Southern Nigerian Ulama Summit held at the University of Ibadan. During the controversial visit, he also participated in a high-profile courtesy meeting attended by prominent Muslim scholars from both the northern and southern regions.
Islamophobia shapes politics in South West region
“I now understand how Islamophobia is shaping politics in the South-West and why I was dragged into local political controversies,” Gumi wrote on his social media page.
The cleric argued that sections of the southern media systematically twisted his presence to manufacture unnecessary ethnic and religious panic among local residents. He asked rhetorically whether anybody possessed the legal or constitutional authority to stop him from going anywhere within the borders of Nigeria.
His defensive comments came a day after an abducted school principal in Oyo State, Mrs. Rachael Alamu, released a video confirming that her kidnappers never demanded Sharia law. The victim clarified that the bandits only sought the release of their arrested associates, directly vindicating Gumi’s stance against media sensationalism.
This religious and national security report aligns with official social media statements monitored by Punch Newspapers and Premium Times.
