Gumi: No one can stop me from traveling across Nigeria

Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has said no individual or group has the authority to restrict his movements anywhere in the country, following renewed controversy over his visit to Ibadan, Oyo State, late last year.

Gumi, who recently faced public criticism and allegations bordering on attempts to promote the “Islamisation” narrative in some parts of the South West, insisted that his presence in Ibadan was purely in a representative capacity and not at the invitation of any Muslim group or individual from the South.

In a statement posted on his Facebook page on Tuesday, the cleric said his visit to the ancient city was under the mandate of Islamic scholars from the north, stressing that his role was often misrepresented in politically charged discussions.

“I now fully understand how Islamophobia is shaping politics in the South West and why I have been needlessly dragged into their dirty local politics,” he wrote.

He further stated: “I was in Ibadan, not at the invitation of any Muslim individual or group from the South West, but as a representative of the Northern Muslim Ulama Coalition. Can anyone stop me from going anywhere in Nigeria?”

The cleric’s remarks come amid persistent debates over claims that armed groups involved in kidnappings in some parts of Oyo State have called for the introduction of Sharia law as part of the conditions for the release of kidnapped victims.

However, one of the victims, the principal of Community High School, Esiele, Mrs Rachael Alamu, recently dismissed such claims in a viral video, saying the kidnappers never made any demands relating to the implementation of Sharia or a ransom of ₦1 billion. He explained that the gunmen instead called for the release of their accomplices detained by the government.

Similarly, Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) also rejected the Sharia-related claims, describing them as false and politically motivated.

The group argued that such narratives were being promoted by individuals accused of trying to discredit Islam and its adherents in the South West.

Gumi’s visit to Ibadan on November 19, 2025, where he was a special guest speaker at the Southern Nigeria Ulama Summit held at the University of Ibadan, continued to generate mixed reactions in political and religious circles.

During the visit, he also participated in a courtesy meeting with a cross-section of Muslim scholars from both the North and the South, a development that further intensified public debate about his role in inter-regional Islamic engagements.

Despite the controversy, the cleric maintains that his movements within Nigeria remain a constitutional right, insisting that he will not be deterred by criticism or public perception.

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