By Abba Hamisu Sani
Africa-Press – Nigeria. Sheikh Ahmed Gumi is an outspoken Islamic cleric in Nigeria, a Medical Doctor, and a retired military officer.He’s also a prominent public affairs analyst.
In this Interview with Africa Press, the cleric commended the Kaduna State Governor Senator Uba Sani for taking prompt, and proactive measures in rescuing the Kidnapped School children and teachers in Kaduna State.
He also spoke about what happened in the Delta States’ south South South part of Nigeria, where soldiers were killed while on an operation mission.
Gumi attributed the insecurity issues in Nigeria to bad representation, particularly those elected to occupy political offices at various levels.
Africa Press – Sir, recently the Federal government has released the names of suspected terrorist sponsors which include the names of individuals and some Bureau De Change companies, what is your take about names released?
Sheikh Gumi – I am glad you said suspected only a credible court of Justice can declare somebody to be like that so they are suspects up to now, let us wait for the court to judge.
Africa Press – Shiekh in some of your comments you said the same that only the court can judge, but let us concentrate on the names released as it seems you are not comfortable with the way the government handles the release of such names, what do you think the government should do?
Gumi – No No it doesn’t mean I am not comfortable, you see because I don’t want to innocent person to be framed ,you know to cause problems for the government itself one ,secondly I know very well these bandits have a way of generating money, they don’t need anybody to finance them.
“Finance them for what? They extract people millions and if there is anybody to be looked after by the government should be gun runners, those selling weapons at the black market, and seal our bidders for drowns and arms. These are the real people that are aiding those people ,but what money will you give them as financer” Sheikh Ahmad Gumi added.
Africa Press – A lot of Bureau D’echange operators were arrested without knowing where they are, some from Kano and other part of Nigeria ,and we learned that there are many from Kano as they were suspected of laundering money for terrorism, what is your plea to the government on such people who yet to be charged to court?
Sheikh Gumi – I don’t have any idea about those people, I don’t know anything about that, I don’t know!
Africa Press – Sir let us look at the recent kidnapping of Kaduna School children, initially you offered yourself to negotiate for their release on behalf of the government, did you make any effort before their release?
Dr. Gumi – No what we are saying is because of the concern about the children, the children are innocent, and no Nigerian should fold his hand, I am not saying me alone but I suggest putting heads together with the government to rescue these child, now as they are released the government should also Pursue the released of all those abducted in different part of the country, we hope that someday some time peace will prevail in this nation.
Africa Press -With the release of Kaduna Children now there are 200 internally displaced persons from Borno State and students from Sokoto State all recently abducted, what is your appeal to the government?
The Islamic Cleric – So now the government knows the way of how to release them, so it should Pursue it vigorously to see that everybody is released and that peace has prevailed in this country
Africa Press – Sir what do you think is the solution to this insecurity in northern Nigeria?
Sheikh Gumi – Any nation that has more than sixty percent of its population in multidimensional poverty, any country that has an equal percentage of illiterate any country that doesn’t have a welfare system that takes care of the weak, any country where the ruling class is living a different life with the masses will have that problem is not something that you need rocket science to know that until when we correct our way of governance and put our priority right we will continue to suffer from those problems.
Africa Press -Sir there is this issue of soldiers killing in Delta State and the government is taking reprisal actions which led to the death of many civilians at the same time, what is your view on how the government should handle the situation?
Dr. Ahmad Abubakar Gumi – I don’t know who dies and who doesn’t die, I don’t have that view ,our soldiers were killed, they need to get the concrete without having any civilian killed, the life of a civilian is pictured, is better for a Criminal to escape than to kill an innocent person.
“But you see, these are the things I am saying, we should also try to see how we can negotiate ourselves to remove these problems because everybody is Vulnerable if even a soldier can be Vulnerable to this kind of crime and carnage, Nigeria is not a safe country until when we call all the aggrieved and agitating parties to seat and addressed the problems and also have good representation ,every Nigerian should be well represented.
Representatives should be voicing out the grievances of their people, not just go into the Assembly seat and start collecting allowances” Gumi stated.
We need to be talking to ourselves, now nobody is talking to anybody, we are just living in a jungle where ability is not a norm, you see people have resolved to violence when they don’t have ways to express their grievances.
And I don’t rule out, there are absolute criminals which our security forces should be able to fish out, you know. The security should be robust, especially the police.
Africa Press – Finally how can you describe the effort of Kaduna State Governor Senator Uba Sani in securing the release of Kidnapped Pupils, Students, and their teachers?
Dr. Gumi – It was a very good effort, it was proactive and it doesn’t take time like that of Chibok girls, so it is commendable and we congratulate him for doing that.
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