Renowned Kaduna-based Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi said religion should not be used as a basis for voting any candidate in the 2023 general elections. He said the controversial Muslim-Muslim ticket was nothing but a deceit.
This is just as he said the 2023 presidential candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi need to be weighed on their capacity to deliver, saying that Nigeria does not need a novice as president, but an experienced politician to lead it in 2023 general election.
Sheikh Gumi however, advised that Nigerians should do away with ethno-religious politics in this 21st century, and come together as one united people for the progress of the country.
Speaking with select journalists at his Kaduna residence on the forthcoming general election and the state of the nation, the Islamic Cleric said there was nothing wrong for politicians to contest election several times, seeking for victory.
On Atiku that had contested several times for the presidency, Sheikh Gumi said, “Nigeria needs an experienced politician. We don’t need a novice to be president. The situation in Nigeria today needs an experienced politician to solve it”.
On Tinubu who said it is his turn to be president, Sheikh Gumi said, “It is not proper for him to say it is his turn. There is no question to say it is my turn. Don’t say it is my turn because if people like you they will vote for you.”
He is a good administrator; he can do it. The Muslim-Muslim ticket is unnecessary. We all know, all these politicians are looking for votes. The Muslim-Muslim ticket is deceit, let me use Hausa language, is wayo (deceit). It is not religion. Whether it will work or not, I don’t want to prophesize, but there are a lot of hurdles. In fact, all the political parties have hurdles. Muslim-Muslim ticket is going to be a laboratory test for others to emulate or not”.
The Islamic Cleric also spoke on Peter Obi, saying, “Youths following him are divided like the adults. He needs to reach out to other segments of Nigerians. Relying on youths is not enough. He has to be all over the place, and not leaving politics to one region.”
Sheikh Gumi warned that if an inexperienced politician is voted into power, he will find it difficult to assemble best brains within a short possible time framework to set the nation working progressively.
Sheikh Gumi noted that it took President Muhammadu Buhari over six months to appoint ministers and government officials because he (Buhari) was an inexperienced politician.
“Nigeria is now in the 21st century, people are more educated now. What Nigeria needs now are people with competency. We should not be talking about North because North is no longer monolithic, we should not be talking about Southwest because no particular person is in control, we should not be talking about South East, look at how Senator Ifeanyi Uba was attacked by his own people.
“So, let’s talk about Nigeria as one united people. Nobody controls anybody in the country. So, let’s move forward. Look at America, nobody is talking about power rotation. Let’s develop democracy that we can sustain,” he added.
Gumi also said, social injustice and poverty were responsible for insecurity in the country, adding that seven years into President Buhari’s government, almost every Nigerian is feeling the pains of socio-economic hardship.