Sheikh Ahmed Gumi, outspoken Islamic scholars in Nigeria, has described citizens of the country as very sentimental people who do not learn lessons. In an interview with Sunday Sun, Gumi spoke about 2023 general elections, President Muhammadu Buhari and what is going on in the country.
Gumi said what the country needs is a crop of smart and intelligent Nigerians and it has nothing to do with whether the person is from the north, south, east or west. He, however, said the north has learnt its lessons with President Buhari.
He said: “The north has learnt its lessons. Now, north is worse hit with Buhari. Former President Goodluck Jonathan was building 150 Almajiri schools, nine universities in the north. He was doing things. This Kaduna-Abuja rail, although the late President Umar Yar’Adua stated it. So, let’s have somebody who can do it.
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“Listing the qualities of the kind of leader Nigeria needs, he said such a person must be alert, intelligent, not take revenge, be forgiving, rehabilitate and not kill or imprison. Things are supposed to improve because science and technology have brought development close to the people. Government is retrogressing simply because we don’t have the right people in the right place and at the right time. Nigeria’s situation now is worse.
“Buhari as a president has a pre–determined mind on how he wants to run his government: squeeze corrupt officials, close borders. This is what he has in mind and this is what he’s pursuing to the letter. If you want to get close to him, tell him this man is in jail and he will tell you that’s good.
“You cannot catch all the thieves in Nigeria. You can only catch those ones you don’t like. But, God is God of justice. You either catch all or pardon all and then you draw a line. If you draw a line, whoever commits the same mistake can be tried by law and not your personal decision. He knows what is happening and he likes it.
“This is his style. This is the style I don’t like myself and that was why I voiced out my opposition. If I have not spoken, people will say look at these people they have kept quiet and now we are suffering. Nobody can point a finger at me and I thank God for that. So, we need to rethink. We need to come back together to save this country because it is a beautiful country.”
Meanwhile, The Herald reported that Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, on Sunday urged the youths to start organizing themselves for leadership positions before the 2023 general elections.
Soyinka made the call on the sidelines the Wreath Laying Ceremony to commemorate the 21st anniversary of the death of Chief MKO Abiola, organised by Women Arise for Change Initiative (WA) at the late politician’s graveside in Ikeja.
He said that the youths should recognize that they had the bloc vote to manifest and actualize their expectations. “Sometimes I refer to this generation of youths in which one places so much hope, as a ‘Gaseous’ generation because they are so full of gas.
“But when it comes to action, you are astonished because they keep calling out names like where is Wole Soyinka? Where is Joe Okei-Odumakin? Where is Femi Falana? They keep churning out the same names, same expectations, they do not organize themselves for action.