Popular Islamic cleric Sheikh Ahmad Gumi has responded to criticisms surrounding his visit to Ibadan last year, dismissing allegations that he was promoting the Islamisation of Oyo State or advancing northern religious ideology in the South-West.
Gumi's Stance on Freedom of Movement
The cleric insisted that no individual or group can stop him from travelling to any part of the country. He stressed that his visit to Ibadan was not at the invitation of any Muslim organisation or individual in the South-West. In a Facebook post on Tuesday, Gumi said he attended the event in his capacity as a representative of a coalition of northern Islamic scholars.
“I now understand how Islamophobia is shaping politics in the South-West and why I was dragged into local political controversies,” he wrote. “I was in Ibadan not at the invitation of any South-West Muslim individual or group, but as a representative of the Coalition of Northern Muslim Ulama.”
He added emphatically, “Can anybody stop me from going anywhere in Nigeria?”
Context of the Controversy
Gumi’s comments come a day after one of the victims abducted in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State refuted reports that the kidnappers demanded the introduction of Sharia law in the state as a condition for their release. The victim, Mrs. Rachael Alamu, principal of Community High School, Esiele, who spoke from captivity in a video that later went viral, said the abductors neither demanded Sharia law nor a ₦1 billion ransom. According to her, the kidnappers instead demanded the release of their associates currently in government custody.
Details of the Ibadan Visit
Gumi visited Ibadan on November 19, 2025, as guest speaker at the Southern Nigerian Ulama Summit held at the University of Ibadan. During the visit, he also participated in a courtesy meeting attended by prominent Muslim scholars from both the northern and southern parts of the country. The summit aimed to foster dialogue among Islamic scholars across Nigeria.
