PROMINENT Islamic cleric Sheikh Ahmad Gumi has defended his controversial visit to Ibadan, Oyo State, maintaining that he has a constitutional right to travel freely anywhere in Nigeria and rejecting claims that his presence in the South-West was linked to any agenda aimed at promoting religious dominance.
In a statement shared on his Facebook page on Tuesday, Gumi responded to criticism that followed his participation in a major Islamic gathering in Ibadan in November 2025.
Some groups had accused him of attempting to advance northern religious influence in the region, allegations he firmly dismissed.
The cleric explained that his visit was not organised by any South-West Muslim group or individual.
Rather, he said he attended the event in his capacity as a representative of the Coalition of Northern Muslim Ulama.
The renewed attention surrounding Gumi’s visit comes amid ongoing discussions over reports that kidnappers holding schoolchildren and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State allegedly demanded the implementation of Sharia law as a condition for their release.
However, those claims were recently disputed by one of the victims, Mrs. Rachael Alamu, principal of Community High School, Esiele, who appeared in a viral video while in captivity.
According to her, the abductors neither demanded Sharia law nor a N1 billion ransom, as previously reported.
Instead, she said they were seeking the release of some of their associates currently being held by government authorities.
The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) also rejected reports linking the kidnappers’ demands to Sharia law.
In a statement issued on Monday, the group described the allegations as false and accused critics of exploiting the incident to tarnish the image of Islam.
Supporting MURIC’s position, Gumi argued that growing Islamophobia was influencing political discourse in parts of the South-West.
“I now understand how Islamophobia is shaping politics in the South-West and why I was unnecessarily dragged into local political issues,” he said.
“I was in Ibadan not at the invitation of any South-West Muslim group or individual, but as a representative of the Coalition of Northern Muslim Ulama. Can anybody stop me from going anywhere in Nigeria?”
Gumi’s remarks appear intended to counter criticism that emerged after his visit to Ibadan on November 19, 2025, where he attended the Southern Nigerian Ulama Summit at the University of Ibadan as a special guest and keynote speaker. During the trip, he also participated in a series of meetings and engagements alongside Islamic scholars from both Northern and Southern Nigeria.
His latest comments are likely to reignite discussions surrounding religion, politics, regional sensitivities, and the role of religious leaders in national affairs, particularly as debates continue over security challenges and interfaith relations across the country.
