In an interview with The Sun, Kaduna-based Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, reflected on Nigeria’s past and present political landscape, revisiting the events leading up to the 2015 general elections.
He recalled his advice to former President Goodluck Jonathan at the time, urging him to step down due to growing national discontent, especially from the northern region. “In 2015, I told Jonathan to just step down because people had rejected him, especially in the North,” Gumi said. He cited widespread insecurity, Boko Haram bombings, and the government’s inability to control the military as key reasons for rising tensions across the country.
According to him, the frustration cut across all classes. “Everyone, irrespective of their social status, was affected one way or the other,” he noted. Gumi, however, expressed disappointment in the administration that succeeded Jonathan. “Unfortunately, the eight years of former President Muhammadu Buhari could not help us,” he remarked.
On current politics, the cleric maintained that top contenders like Bola Tinubu and Atiku Abubakar remain friends despite political rivalry. “They are all friends and no sensible Nigerian should kill himself for any of them,” he said, commenting on recent talks of alliances ahead of 2027. He added that Nigerians should allow political realignments to take place without unnecessary tension, as the major players are navigating familiar territory.
Gumi also dismissed the political relevance of Buhari in today’s landscape. “Buhari has lost his political influence. It cannot be as it was in 2014,” he concluded.
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