Controversial Islamic cleric Sheikh Ahmad Gumi has rattled Nigeria’s media space after saying he will spearhead calls for the release of IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu, but only if Kanu shows genuine remorse.
Speaking on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Tuesday, Gumi defended his controversial push for a non-kinetic approach to Nigeria’s spiraling insecurity.
“This Kanu that was imprisoned for terrorism for agitating that our soldiers should be killed, if this same Kanu now will show remorse and also call for peace, honestly, I will be in the forefront in calling for his pardon and amnesty for him,” he declared.
The cleric cited past examples of amnesty in Nigeria, including Shagari’s forgiveness of Ojukwu and Yar’Adua’s pardon for Niger Delta militants.
“Look, Shagari, our president, we are from the same town. Shagari gave amnesty to Ojukwu. Look at Umar Yar’Adua; he gave amnesty to the Niger Delta militants, who have also committed acts of terrorism. So, this is how we are.”
Gumi, long a proponent of dialogue over force, slammed the idea that the army alone can solve Nigeria’s complex security challenges.
“Even America could not succeed in Afghanistan, even Israel could not succeed in a small strip of land. Our army is not designed for the gorilla; no army is designed for the kind of people we are showing now, no army is designed for it,” he said.
He also highlighted groups open to peace, including Fulani herders.
“If you have been following, the Fulani herdsmen have been calling for peace. When you call them for peace, they come with their guns for many reasons,” he said.
Gumi questioned the willingness of other groups to engage in dialogue:
“Can you call IPOB for peace? Can you call Boko Haram? I think the former president has called for peace, and they came, but now it’s difficult to call for peace again. So, anybody who inclines to peace. I’m with him, I’m telling you.”
His remarks come as Nigeria grapples with a surge in insecurity, including mass abductions of schoolchildren and attacks on worshippers.
Critics say President Bola Tinubu’s response has been insufficient, despite orders for security forces to pursue the perpetrators.
