October 22, (THEWILL) – Controversial Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, was in the news lately. The man, who ran himself into trouble for his inglorious contact with bandits and herdsmen terrorising the North-West and North-Central parts of Nigeria, during the tenure of former President Muhammadu Buhari is about to rock the boat once again. His recent outburst in a 14-minute video broadcast on his Facebook page where he described the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, as ”satanic” and castigated President Bola Tinubu for appointing Christians into top and sensitive security positions in the country, saying Christians and others, whom he also described as ”infidels,” cannot be trusted.
Making some unfounded insinuations and outrageous allegations in the broadcast, Gumi succeeded in whipping up ethnic sentiments and tribal divisions capable of causing disunity and hatred among Nigerians, even as he allegedly threatened President Tinubu of dire consequences if Wike is not removed as FCT Minister.
The outburst followed Wike’s hosting of the Israeli Ambassador in Abuja and the minister’s plan to collaborate with Israel on security for the FCT, even as Gumi betrayed his innermost fear of himself and his co-travellers being labelled as terrorists if the security plan eventually comes into effect.
“The Minister of the FCT is a Satanic person. I said it before when he was appointed and some people were grumbling.
“He has gone and brought the Israeli Ambassador. That’s what someone sent, and I am yet to watch it. But what is confirmed is he said they will collaborate with the Israelis on Abuja’s security issues.
“Abuja will now become an extension of Tel Aviv and when they see anyone with a beard like us, they will say it is Bin Laden and we will be killed,” Gumi was quoted as saying in the broadcast.
Gumi’s dangerous outburst and vituperations, as well as his combative stance, especially at this point in time, are highly condemnable as they are capable of fanning the embers of disunity in the country. We therefore call on the controversial cleric to be mindful of the implications of his unwarranted outburst in a secular country like Nigeria.
While we wonder what Gumi’s problems and fears are, if truly he is a peaceful religious leader that he portrays himself to be, we call on the authorities concerned to call him to order now before his army of followers and religious fundamentalists start misbehaving and wreaking further havoc in the country.
Unfortunately, Gumi seems to have found support for his outburst in other ethnic bigots who feel threatened and uncomfortable with Wike’s appointment as FCT Minister as they erroneously believe that the FCT belongs to the North and must be administered by a minister of northern extraction. While their fears are quite unfounded if they choose to be peaceful, we want them to know that their threats will not come to fruition.
We want to state categorically that the FCT, just like Nigeria, belongs to all Nigerians and should not be seen as an enclave exclusively owned by any particular ethnic group. It is sad and unfortunate that some ethnic bigots who have benefited immensely from the many years of lopsided appointments to key national positions in the country are now becoming uncomfortable with the new change that is unfolding.
