By Sheikh (Dr.) Ahmad Abubakar Gumi
My attention was drawn to a series of deliberate misrepresentations and distortions of particularly my comments during the visit of the Kaduna chapter of Oha-na-ze Ndigbo in some newspapers. For the records, I am not a politician and I don’t have sympathy for any of the political parties. My commitment on those that are fair in following what I have been doing, is to always to ensure that the rule of law prevails in the conduct of all politicians, and for the major stakeholders to avoid overheating our already saturated polity. If some of my comments, which some consider offensive and against their political interest and pursuit, will ultimately alert our largely unenlightened youths and subsequently prevent the looming bloodshed I foresaw, then the abuses and allegations of compromise against my person will be my own sacrifice to this nation.
It does not a matter the malicious opinion of anybody against whosoever did anything for the sake of Allah because He knows the secrets of our hearts and He is the ultimate judge. I am always very conscious of everything I write and I will always accept responsibility no matter who feels offended. As an Islamic scholar the supporters of Jonathan or Buhari should not expect me to embark on campaign for or to compel people to vote a candidate they don’t want. My responsibility is to guide and alert the nation on what I know and perceive as a result of my personal conviction, while the people have the final say. In the process, like all mortals, I may be wrong. What is important in Islam is to act strictly for the sake of Allah.
I have never ever said, as reported as aftermath of the visit of the Igbo groups that General Buhari is also corrupt It was as deliberate as purported and mischievously disseminated. In any case, it is not my duty to determine whether anybody is corrupt or not, or to even pass a final verdict on him.
May I clearly state here that the content of my recent statement was twistedly publicized by some media outfits to deliberately insinuate the public against my position! Many viewed it as I am a stark antagonist of Buhari, or mildly put a sponsored and endorsed campaigner for Jonathan! The records are very clear to prove otherwise! There is no Nigerian leader I persistently criticize and censor like Jonathan because of the inherent deficiency and incompetence to addressing many serious national issues bedeviling this nation today; particularly in the north eastern part of the country. My comments on Buhari will inevitability are seen as an act of blasphemy in the eyes of many of his supporters. They judged anyone that speaks against what they politically believe in, as Jonathanism! This is pathetic situation that must be reversed because the rule of the game is the moment someone presents himself for any leadership post he is liable to criticism and answerable to people before his or her God!
The fact that there is religion in politics and politics in religion is the reason why I believe it is a duty for me to be consistent in addressing issues of public interest and to ensure that no human blood drops for the sake of anybody’s ambition; including the ambitions of Jonathan and Buhari.
My comments on avoiding violence during the election is not only limited to the supporters of Buhari as mischievously insinuated. But, by extention to the supporters of Jonathan as well! In fact that is why before the two parties held their presidential conventions, I repeatedly urged the two parties to do away with the candidatures of Jonathan and Buhari because of the potential danger of doing so. But, now that they didn’t listen and went ahead to present the duo, it must be acceptable to all and sundry that only one of them will eventually become as the president of Nigeria come 2015. Hence, I must admonish, therefore, that we must prepare our minds to accept wholeheartedly whatever is the outcome of the elections in as much as it is conducted under reasonable level of fairness. This is better than the risk of losing one human life because of the credulousness or narcissism of Jonathan or Buhari! If lives are worth forfeiting why the children of our politicians did not participate in the post- election violence of 2011!
On this note I will call on INEC and the Security agencies to conduct themselves appropriately without partiality to diffuse any post-election tension and Violence that may erupt; May Allah forbids! I thus passionately call on the public to be patient and forebearing no matter the level of provocations, intimidations and injustices, and fervently pray instead, for Allah (SWT) to provide with the peaceful way out of our perennial problems in Nigeria without bloodshed!
I am therefore compelled to give this additional comment because I know that there are many reasonable people who misunderstood my position because of the manner the comments were reported in some the newspapers.
May Allah protect us from every fear and apprehension, and guide us aright in all our affairs! Amin
