Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
A chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the party’s immediate past Acting National Publicity Secretary, Yekini Nabena, has warned controversial Kaduna-based Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, to ensure that no harm befalls the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.
The Bayelsa-born politician was reacting to a viral video in which Gumi described Wike as “satanic.” Nabena, in his statement, called for the immediate arrest and prosecution of the cleric over what he described as hate speech against the FCT Minister.
In the 14-minute sermon posted on his official Meta page last Thursday, Gumi had labelled Wike “satanic” for receiving the Israeli Ambassador to Nigeria in his office. The cleric also claimed that President Bola Tinubu would not complete eight years in office, adding that Christians should never be trusted with power or allowed to head Nigeria’s defence, security, and intelligence agencies.
The Israeli envoy, Michael Freeman, had visited Wike on October 3 — just days before the Hamas attack on Israel and the subsequent retaliatory strikes by the Jewish nation. During the visit, Wike had sought Israel’s partnership to support farmers in the FCT.
However, Gumi and some northern commentators accused Wike of pledging support to Israel.
Condemning Gumi’s remarks, Nabena accused certain northern leaders of nurturing a “sense of entitlement” that undermines national unity. He warned that should anything happen to Wike, Gumi and his associates should be held responsible.
According to Nabena, this sense of entitlement is not only dividing the country but also making some northerners view southerners as inferior in a nation where all citizens are meant to enjoy equal rights.
He vowed that people of the Niger Delta — and southerners in general — would no longer tolerate any form of intimidation from individuals like Gumi.
“My intervention on Gumi’s controversial statement is not just about the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, but about the rights of the Niger Delta people and southerners in general,” Nabena said.
“At this stage, we expect all voices of reason to speak out because the sense of entitlement of the likes of Sheikh Gumi is becoming more satanic. How can anyone justify northerners holding positions that are naturally meant for people of the Niger Delta and the South? To date, a northerner is still the GMD of the NNPCL.”
He further queried why southern Christians should be deemed unfit to hold top public offices such as the FCT Ministry or the Senate Presidency while northerners dominate strategic agencies like NIMASA, NNPCL, NPDC, NLNG, and NPA.
While cautioning against “reckless public comments” capable of deepening national divisions, Nabena urged the Presidency to make a bold statement reaffirming that every Nigerian has the right to hold public office anywhere in the country.
“The Presidency must deliberately caution Sheikh Gumi and his co-travellers against statements capable of causing disunity and promoting a sense of entitlement.
“Security agencies should also take Gumi’s reckless but deliberate statements seriously. He should be arrested, questioned, and prosecuted.
“Let it be on record that we, the sons and daughters of the Niger Delta, will hold Sheikh Gumi responsible if any harm befalls Nyesom Wike during his tenure as FCT Minister,” Nabena warned.
