According to a report by News Central TV from 1.02, on Wednesday November 13, 2025, Reverend Joseph Hayab, the Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) for the 19 Northern states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has openly criticized prominent Islamic cleric Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, expressing shock over Gumi’s purported claim that his engagement with the government was exploited.
Rev. Hayab, speaking on the state of inter-religious dialogue and security in the North, asserted that Sheikh Gumi, as a stakeholder, should prioritize honest, healing, and unifying words, rather than making inflammatory statements.
Hayab directly addressed the reported comments made by Gumi: “I’m shocked to hear in an interview that we were used, said Sheikh Gumi and others.”
He then delivered a pointed rebuke of Gumi’s alleged conduct in the public discourse surrounding insecurity and inter-religious matters.
“I expect Sheikh Gumi is supposed to be a stakeholder. Sheikh Gumi is supposed to be honest to himself. Sheikh Gumi is supposed to be honest to the Nigerian Christians in northern Nigeria and honest even to his Muslim colleagues by ensuring that he speaks words that unite, words that will bring healing.”
Rev. Hayab accused the cleric of exacerbating tensions through misinformation and distortion of events. “But further exaggerating and twisting stories just make the whole matter continue to escalate.”
The CAN Chairman concluded by grounding his criticism in the verifiable suffering experienced by the Christian community in the region, emphasizing their grim reality over political rhetoric.
“But for us as Christians, we know we’ve been killed. For us as Christians, we have buried so many. For us as Christians, we have suffered so much persecution.” View, More,
Explore More News By Using The Button.