Gumi blames ‘Islamophobia’ for reactions to Ibadan trip

Islamic cleric Sheikh Ahmad Gumi has clarified the reason behind his recent trip to Ibadan, saying he was not invited by any Muslim group or individual in the South-West.

In a Facebook post on Tuesday, Gumi said he went to Ibadan as a representative of northern Islamic scholars.

He also suggested that fear of Islam and Muslims is affecting political discussions in the South-West following reactions to his visit.

This comes after reports and reactions linked his visit to tensions over insecurity and claims about demands made by kidnappers in Oyo State, which were later denied by victims and some Islamic groups.

Responding to criticisms, 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?”