Islamophobia shaping politics in South-West – Sheikh Gumi

Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi has asserted that an irrational fear of Muslims and Islam is driving politics in the South-West geopolitical zone of the country.

He also asked to be left out of “dirty local politics” in the region, after his visit to Ibadan, the Oyo State capital generated controversy.

The cleric made his stance known in a Facebook post on Tuesday amid reports that the abductors of 46 schoolchildren and teachers in Oriire local government area of Oyo State on May 15 had demanded the implementation of Sharia law in the state as one of the conditions to release the captives.

But in a video shared on Monday by her captors, one of the victims vehemently debunked the Sharia implementation report.

Speaking from captivity, Mrs Rachael Folawe Alamu, explained that the armed gunmen made no demand for Sharia nor ransom payment of N1 billion as reported in some quarters.

She added that they only demanded the release of their comrades being held by Nigerian authorities.

A prominent Islamic group, Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), also debunked the purported Sharia demand in a Monday press release.

Reacting to MURIC’s statement, Gumi said, “I quite understand now how Islamophobia is shaping politics in SW and why I was unnecessarily dragged into their dirty local politics.

“I was in Ibadan not by the invitation of any SW Muslim individual or group but as a representative of the Coalition of Northern Muslim Ulama.

“Can anybody stop me from going anywhere in Nigeria?

It’s strange how some people think!

“I believe the whole saga is tele-guided by both foreign and local interests to promote a narrative and polarise the country.”