By Abigail David
Popular Islamic cleric, Ahmad Gumi, has defended his visit to Ibadan, Oyo State, dismissing criticisms that he was promoting northern Islamic ideologies or attempting to influence the region’s religious landscape.
In a Facebook post on Tuesday, Gumi said no individual or group could prevent him from travelling to any part of Nigeria, stressing that his visit to the South-West was not at the invitation of any local Muslim organisation or individual.
According to the cleric, he attended the event in his capacity as a representative of the Coalition of Northern Muslim Ulama.
“I was in Ibadan, not by the invitation of any South-West Muslim individual or group, but as a representative of the Coalition of Northern Muslim Ulama. Can anybody stop me from going anywhere in Nigeria?” he wrote.
Gumi’s comments came amid renewed debates over alleged demands by kidnappers holding pupils and teachers abducted in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
The abducted principal of Community High School, Esiele, Mrs. Rachael Alamu, recently appeared in a viral video from captivity, denying reports that the abductors demanded the introduction of Sharia law or a N1 billion ransom.
According to Alamu, the kidnappers’ primary demand was the release of some of their associates in government custody.
The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) also rejected claims that the abductors sought the implementation of Sharia law, describing the allegation as false and intended to portray Islam negatively.
Aligning with MURIC’s position, Gumi said the controversy surrounding his Ibadan visit reflected growing Islamophobia in South-West politics and suggested that he had been unnecessarily drawn into local political disputes.
Gumi visited Ibadan in November 2025 as a special guest and speaker at the Southern Nigerian Ulama Summit held at the University of Ibadan, where he also attended a courtesy meeting with Muslim scholars from across the country.
