Northern Elders disown Sheikh Gumi for attacking Wike, Tinubu

In a statement issued in Abuja on Monday, Northern elders distanced themselves from Muslim cleric Sheikh Ahmed Gumi over his recent attacks on President Bola Tinubu and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Barr. Nyesom Wike. The elders condemned Gumi’s outbursts as divisive and detrimental to the nation.

Alhaji Abba Liman, the spokesperson for the North-East Consolidated Peoples Forum (NCPF), quoted the elders as deeming Gumi’s attacks as unprovoked, malicious, incendiary, and a deliberate distortion of historical facts.

They also criticized religious and ethnic incitement by what they referred to as “misguided elements and their sponsors” aiming to sow discord and disunity in the country, emphasizing that such sentiments do not represent the collective views of the North or the interests of Nigeria.

Gumi had previously criticized the FCT Minister for hosting the Israeli ambassador during a courtesy visit to his office and accused President Tinubu of appointing Wike as the Minister of FCT. He further issued a threat to President Tinubu. The cleric also made claims about past political assassinations.

However, the Forum, consisting of respected statesmen and women, disagreed with Sheikh Gumi, condemning his divisive statements and emphasizing that his motives seemed to be driven by self-interest, aimed at destabilizing Nigeria’s peace and unity.

“The utterance is toxic and it should not be accepted by any decent and sound minded person who loves peace and our Nigeria”.