An irrational fear of Muslims and Islam is driving politics in the South-West geopolitical zone of the country, Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi has asserted.
He also requested to be excluded from “dirty local politics” in the region, after his visit to Ibadan, the Oyo State capital sparked controversy.
The cleric made his position known on Tuesday in a Facebook post amid reports that the abductors of 46 schoolchildren and teachers in the Oriire local government area of Oyo State on May 15 had demanded the implementation of Sharia law in the state as one of the conditions to release the captives.
But in a video released by her captors on Monday, one of the victims vehemently debunked the Sharia implementation report.
Mrs Rachael Folawe Alamu, who spoke from captivity, said the armed gunmen made no demand for Sharia nor ransom payment of N1 billion as reported in some quarters.
She added they only demanded the release of their comrades being held by Nigerian authorities.
Also, a prominent Islamic group, Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), in a press release on Monday debunked the purported Sharia demand.
Reacting to MURIC’s statement, Gumi said, “I quite understand now how Islamophobia is shaping politics in SW and why I was unnecessarily dragged into their dirty local politics.
“I was in Ibadan not on invitation of any SW Muslim individual or group but as a representative of the Coalition of Northern Muslim Ulama.
“Can anyone stop me going anywhere in Nigeria?
Some people have strange ideas!
“I think that the whole saga is tele-guided by both foreign and local interests to promote a narrative and polarise the country.”
