A renowned Nigerian Islamic cleric, Ahmad Gumi, has asked President Goodluck Jonathan to drop his re-election bid, less than 72 hours after he offered a similar warning to a former Head of State, Muhammadu Buhari.
In an open letter, similar to the one he wrote Mr. Buhari, Mr. Gumi said President Jonathan has failed as a leader, and stands out as a divisive figure in the country, rather than a unifying rallying point. The letter is posted on his Facebook Page.
“You (President Jonathan) have divided the nation gravely on the religious divide,” the cleric said. “My fellow country man, it’s unfortunate that your stand on many issues have made you into a polarizing figure while the exalted office you occupy needs a nationalistic one.”
Mr. Gumi argued that a Jonathan leadership beyond May 2015 would be cataclysmic for Nigeria because the segment of Nigeria opposed to his occupation of the presidency are convinced he is negatively involved in the Boko Haram saga.
“The natural thing any good leader will do in this situation is to step down for a person all the segments of the nation will have confidence in for their well-being,” the cleric said. “A credible person that will not stir apprehension. The decision is not about your rights but about responsibility.”
Mr. Gumi backed his argument with the contents of the famous letter written by former President Olusegun Obasanjo to President Jonathan.
He also based his advice on “responsibility of leadership” and not the legality of the president’s re-election ambition.
Read his full post below.
MY CANDID ADVICE TO PRESIDENT GOODLUCK JONATHAN.
Mr. President
We have never met despite the fact that we were all born and we lived for more than half a century in this great vast country Nigeria. It’s here we all grew up and were educated and I presume except by divine prudence it’s here that we will all be buried.
So what truly matters is the legacy that we will bequest our children and the next generation of Nigerians to come. We will not want it a burnt country with hundreds of thousands dead, maimed or displaced people because of the thoughtlessness and recklessness of its stewardship.
Nigeria today is a single railway line with two heavily loaded trains spending towards each other in opposite direction.
You’re the driver of the heavier train and please do not think that even a cart on the railway cannot derail you with great catastrophe to humanity.
You need to come out of the cocoon and face the reality. Denial of the truth can never solve problems.
Mr. President, from what I heard from people who are close to you, is that you are humble with a soft heart. But still humility is never enough for an effective leadership. Leadership is about listening and taking the good advices from people of wisdom not from those that benefit from you or have any agenda other than the unity and progress of this Nation.
The mantle of the leadership of this country was given to you under oath. Almost four years ago you swore to protect ‘the interest of the sovereignty, integrity, solidarity, well-being and prosperity of the Federal Republic of Nigeria’. You said: ‘ I will not allow my personal interest to influence my official conduct or my official decisions; and ‘I will do right to all manner of people, according to law, without fear or favour, affection or ill-will’
Unfortunately, many people including me before God believe you broke some of your oath. I’ll only need to refer you back to the honest open letter advice you were given by your political godfather. You appear more Ijaw than Nigerian. It’s seldom fathers will deceive their children. Yet you never listen. And sadly by your recalcitrance you are dangerously leading this nation to chaos and turmoil that only God knows were it will end.
Muslims have officially registered to you on occasions your partiality. Northern groups have complained about your bias. The youth about your neglect.
You have divided the nation gravely on the religious divide. Already we heard a call in a church that you are now a saviour. Now, not of Nigeria but the church in Nigeria. With this religious zeal on both sides, each side looking at the wrong people for salvation the nation is heading towards disaster.
My fellow country man, it’s unfortunate that your stand on many issues have made you into a polarizing figure while the exalted office you occupy needs a nationalistic one. Surely with the Christian votes and northern PDP followers you can win another election but you will also set the nation into another turmoil because that segment of the nation that rejects you do so because they believe rightly or wrongly you are involved negatively in the Boko Haram Saga. The natural thing any good leader will do in this situation is to step down for a person all the segments of the nation will have confidence with for their well-being. A credible person that will not stir apprehension. The decision is not about your rights but about responsibility.
Therefore as you pray in the Holy Land seek for God’s indulgence to show you the light of honor and do the right thing. It’s God’s command that Nigeria stay united and ‘what therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder’.
A word of wisdom says: ‘He who consults is never disappointed and he who seeks God’s choice never regret’ so please don’t brush it aside call men of wisdom to advice you too.
I for a start, I am hereby candidly advising you to relinquish your presidential ambition because of peace, stability and well being of millions of innocent Nigerians. There are many politicians that can ‘finish’ it on your behalf. The PDP can present Akpabio or Obi or Orji etc.
I rest my case here.
Stay blessed.
Ahmad Gumi
Thanks Gumi. Let's hope he listens.
ReplyDelete...Sheikh G. when did God inform you that he signed the united status of nigeria??? Perhaps your wisdom isn't enough for you to know that all these bedlam is simply because we are not meant to be united? Must we be united??? Do we look like relatives???
ReplyDeleteIf you don't like it then don't like their oil money and join chad
ReplyDeleteA power-drunked drunkered is like a dog destined to get lost in the bush and will never listen nor hear the whistle of the hunter. If the west does not vote the way they do last time and vote APC candidate, GMB will deliver north successfully and GEJ cannot win this time around. Lets him contest and fail honourably.
ReplyDeleteRubbish advice.
ReplyDeleteTheres Always An Unanswered Question Weneva Fanatics Handle Tns
ReplyDeleteits anoda election time,and d northernas hav started wit yet anoda incittin comment and post.honestly.am completely convince dat fanatics like u are nigerias problem.u tink u can intimided d president.go to hell u fool.
ReplyDeletePlease tell them that am the one that will stabilise and fix Nigeria. Mr Gunmi or what ever you call yourself, do the north and south of nigeria look similar to you, do they have same culture and traditions? , the answer is emphatic no. If GEJ is the man to bring to an end the contraption call nigeria let it be. If GEJ is the man to end this marriage of "unnecessity and circumstances let him go ahead. I understand your fear-how your parasitic north will survive in the aftermath, how Atiku, IBB, Danjuma etc will forfeit their ill acquired wealth.You can ask your brothers from the margred-Mali, Chard etc how they managed to survive.
ReplyDeleteSince Boko haram leader dead, this man ha come out to be issuing his candid advise, you are nothing but the leader of boko haram
ReplyDeleteThe way some parochial people boast of oil in south- south, I just wonder. These people don't remember the groundnut pyramids that were used to lay the foundation of Nigeria. And they probably think oil will remain relevant forever? God's doing through the ages should be enough lessons to check such boating.
ReplyDeleteShut up your bocalcsvit. Go back and check history on the shearing formula then.
DeleteMust you insult others. Go back to your mama and papa to raise you properly child. This forum is for adults
DeleteTo be honest and give sincerity a fair chance, Gumi has spoken well. Although I would've loved it if it were done by some1 else. Jonathan has not done well. Probably, he might hav. However, d insurgent nd now terrorist activities in the north stopped him. My candid opinion is that neither Buhari or Jonathan shud contest this election for peace and unity seek but if our crave is for dis-unity as must of u clearly started here, fine, let him go ahead. But you must know that war is not good even d cheapest one. Because most of us have not experienced it, we're to talk any how we like.
ReplyDeleteDon‘t mind some of those lazy, hypocrites with no knowledge or history of how the refineries they are “So“ proud of today come to existence. Only if their ungrateful parent will tell them the truth they wouldn‘t be so boastful of that oil within their region. Yeye people!
ReplyDeletePower corrupt absolute power corrupt absolutely. Power is like alcohol which can be dangerous to the drunk and the people around the drunk. We have seen how the people in the north believed in the their right to rule over the years. Now we have the South-South thinking alike. Why do Jonathan had to run again? Why is Buhari trying to run again? We are just postponing the inevitable. Nigeria will divide eventually. I just hope that we do it in peace and not in pieces. The later is what it looks like right now. The North are not ready to relinquish power and the South-South are thinking that they are entitled because of oil deposit in their region. Those trains are about to collide. The unfortunate outcome is lives that will be lost for no reason but lack of leadership that understand responsibilities. We will see how many lives we will be ready to give up for us to come to reality. I feel so bad for Nigeria at this point and foreseeable future.
ReplyDeleteMallam G, GEJ cannot take the advice of Ballam. Stop pretending, your name is Boko Haram.
ReplyDeleteIs quite visible that the major components that make up this colossal mistake called Nigeria are so incompatible. The justification of the Eastern secession which brought about the Nigeria/Biafra civil war is becoming tangibly prominent. As long as we Nigerians continue to allow ethnic and religious sentiments to guide our thoughts and decisions, we can never get it right and a break up becomes inevitable. All the candidates of our various presidential elections have always always directly or indirectly played this type of politics. More importantly,no region should claim to be the most eligible to rule if equity and justice mean anything to us. I've not heard of ethnic groups in America, France, Germany etc. I've not yet heard their Presidents and vice performing pilgrimages in official capacity. I think we need to change a lot of things if we must remain one Nation.
ReplyDeleteYou people are pathetic and tribalists. I remember this same man advised Buhari to rescind his decision to contest the 2015 election and you all came here to praise. Now he's asking Jonathan to do same you now call him fake and all kind of names. What is wring with both of them stepping aside for new generation to rule. The idiocy in this country never fails to amaze me.
ReplyDeleteWhen the trouble starts one thing I know is that those calling for it on both sides will not be spared. Why are many Nigerians so much after what they will eat today and shut their eyes at the future of their children. What is wrong with this man asking both of them to back down. Dont you have others in the country that can rule you. Many will laugh at your fall when the trouble starts and Liberia will be finer than your country after the war. You better forget about your selfish interest and sack these two men now.
ReplyDeleteIt is no longer news that Nigeria is already divided. my advise to the muslim in the north to stop killing there christian brothers/sisters, they are your selvind grace. cos no single christian in the north will vote muslim candidate from the north unless you realized you wicked mistake.
ReplyDelete