A prominent Islamic cleric based in Kaduna State, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has dismissed claims that politicians are funding the unrest in northern Nigeria.
The region, particularly the North-West, has seen a rise in insecurity, with frequent attacks by bandits and other criminal elements.
High-profile figures, such as the Gobir monarch in Sokoto State, have fallen victim to these violent acts.
In 2021, Imo State Governor Hope Uzodinma suggested that political figures were responsible for sponsoring the banditry seen across parts of the country.
However, in an interview with Saturday PUNCH, Sheikh Gumi refuted these allegations, asserting that no politician is involved in fueling the violence.
He explained, “This is an unintelligent allegation. No politician is sponsoring these people. We are all victims. The opposition is not even behind this. This is a natural reaction of people neglected for centuries without education.”
Sheikh Gumi further elaborated that the unrest stems from longstanding societal neglect, as communities now have increased exposure to global standards through the Internet.
“Now they are exposed to the world and they want education. These people are exposed to the Internet and they see how much they are deprived. They want to fight back. This act is not by anybody,” he added.
The cleric emphasized that the people are driven by a desire for a better future for their children.
Citing an example of a community initiative, Gumi noted, “We went to a village between Abuja and Kaduna and we built schools for herdsmen. To our surprise, over 600 of them with their families have started schooling there. They told us that they do not want their children to be like them. Imagine if we did that all around the country.”
