Popular Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has defended his long-standing call for a non-kinetic approach to tackling insecurity, saying he is ready to lead the campaign for the release of the convicted leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu on the condition that Kanu expresses remorse.
Streetnetngr reports that Kanu was convicted last Thursday on seven terrorism charges by the Federal High Court in Abuja and got a life sentence.
Speaking on Channels TV’s The Morning Brief on Tuesday, Gumi said he’s not against supporting Kanu’s freedom, as long as the IPOB leader openly apologises for his past comments and actions.
His words, “This Kanu that was imprisoned for terrorism for agitating that our soldiers should be killed, if this same Kanu now will show remorse and also call for peace, honestly, I will be in the forefront in calling for his pardon and amnesty for him.”
Gumi didn’t stop there. He reminded Nigerians that amnesty didn’t start today.
He said, “Look, Shagari, our president, we are from the same town. Shagari gave amnesty to Ojukwu. Look at Umar Yar’Adua; he gave amnesty to the Niger Delta militants, who have also committed acts of terrorism. So, this is how we are.”
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The cleric, who always pushes for dialogue over bullets, said the country would actually be safer if leaders embraced non-kinetic solutions.
He argued that even world powers struggle with insurgency.
“Even America could not succeed in Afghanistan, even Israel could not succeed in a small strip of land. Our army is not designed for the gorilla; no army is designed for the kind of people we are showing now, no army is designed for it,” he said.
Gumi also claimed some groups are already showing interest in peace talks.
“If you have been following, the Fulani herdsmen have been calling for peace. When you call them for peace, they come with their guns for many reasons.
“Can you call IPOB for peace? Can you call Boko Haram? I think the former president has called for peace, and they came, but now it’s difficult to call for peace again,” he added.
He added that although a former president once succeeded in getting insurgents to the negotiation table, things have now become tougher.
“So, anybody who inclines to peace. I’m with him, I’m telling you,” he concluded.
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