In leaked video, Sheikh Gumi tells Muslims not to vote leaders who will fight bandits

Controversial Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has warned Muslims against voting for leaders who will “fight bandits” whom he described as “our people” going into the 2023 elections.

In a sermon which was captured in a video on Sunday, the popular Islamic scholar told his congregants that they should only vote for leaders who would negotiate with bandits when elected into office.

Gumi who spoke in Hausa language, described the bandits as “our people,” and said Nigeria’s next set of leaders should negotiate and give bandits what they want for peace to reign.

“Don’t vote for those who will fight bandits. The fighters or bandits as you call them, are our people. So please vote for those who, after attaining power, will call and negotiate with our people in the forests so as to give them what they want for peace to reign,” he said.

Media24flashnews gathered that In September 15th 2022 A group calls for arrest of Sheikh Gumi over ‘romance’ with bandits,

A civil society group under the aegies of Coalition for Peace In Nigeria (COPIN), has called on the Department of State Services (DSS), to immediately arrest controversial Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi over his alleged romance with bandits and terrorists.

The group, at a press conference held in Abuja on September 2022, said the arrest of the Kaduna-based scholar was long overdue owing to his fraternity with the bandits and his persistent call on the Federal Government to grant them amnesty and compensation.

The COPIN added that by now, the DSS should have made him a person of interest and have him answer questions just like his spokesman and publisher of Desert Herald, Tukur Mamu.

In a communiqué at the end of the parley signed by COPIN’s National Coordinator and Secretary-General, Emeka Akwuobi and Hajiya Fatih Yakub, respectively, the civil society group said that Sheikh Gumi had a lot of explanations to offer on the activities of bandits, especially those operating within the North West area.

“COPIN insists on the immediate arrest, interrogation and prosecution of Islamic scholar, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi over his alleged fraternity and involvement with bandits and terrorists.