Nigerian have expressed mixed opinions over the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi and his running mate, Datti Baba-Ahmed’s “courtesy visit” to popular Islamic cleric and bandits’ negotiator, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, at his official residence in Kaduna State.
Obi had on Monday afternoon written on his Twitter account that “Dr Datti Baba-Ahmed and I stopped by for a courtesy call on Sheikh Gumi at his official residence in Kaduna.”
The tweet was attached with photos of himself, his running mate with Gumi and other Northerners in the midst of a crowd in Gumi’s residence.
Similarly, the Peter Obi Support Network tweeted with the same photos saying, “HE @PeterObi pays a courtesy visit with his VP Dr Datti Baba-Ahmed to Sheikh Gumi while visiting Kaduna.
“A lot of work is being done to reach out to as many people as possible in this drive to build a new Nigeria that will be beneficial to all of us.”
Reacting to the visit, some Twitter users described it as a smart move to unify Nigerians from different religious groups and ethnicity while some condemned it, describing Obi as a political beggar.
A Twitter user, @Qdpaper2 said, “Peter Obi the political beggar went to beg Bandit spokesman Gumi in Kaduna for Support. Well done Youth president.”
Another user, @MrOdanz, sarcastically said, “Sheikh Gumi has joined General Eneche, Doyin Okupe, TY Danjuma, IBB and the others who want to rescue Nigeria from the corrupt old order created by PDP and APC. Nigeria shall be great.”
But @Chiditidy1 quickly asked, “So he can’t stop by to greet again?” a question which was also quickly responded to by @OneDayEgoBetter who said, “But you'll drag Tinubu or Atiku if they stop by to greet Evans the kidnapper, y'all hypocrites,” but @TeeGeezer asked, “Who did Gumi kidnap?”
Another Twitter user, @Dawa911 wrote, “Gumi is topping the chart because Obi visited him in Kaduna. Suleiman Obi aka Okwute is a perfect unifier. Lobbying for votes is politics. Without votes, Competency won't work in isolation. Get votes first before we correct bigotry by appointing competent leaders.”
Also defending Obi’s visit to Gumi, @novieverest said, “Peter Obi is contesting to be president of Nigeria as a whole. He will dialogue with everyone, even the ones you feel are your enemies. Sheikh Gumi isn't the only Nigerian Peter Obi will meet that you won't like. He will meet every Nigerian. Thank you.”
But @_AsiwajuLerry said that “Same people that called Sheikh Gumi a National threat are now singing his praises because Peter Obi took pictures with him. Nigeria Politics is a dirty game.”
Another user, @PoojaMedia said, “"Former" Normal person - Gumi is a bigot, a bandit negotiator & all sorts of names. Peter Obi paid Gumi a visit & suddenly, he is trying to mend bridges & unify the nation. The past is the past. I LOVE POLITICS.”
Meanwhile, @Nkemchor_ said, “PO abeg, Sheikh gumi is a known ethnic bigot. No be everywhere we go stop by,” but @itzz_blitz1 said that “To solve a problem one must consult and know the root cause, some consult to cause problems while others consult to solve problems. Peter obi is a problem solver.”
- Sahara Reporters