— Sheikh Gumi
Renowned Islamic Scholar Sheikh Ahmad Mahmoud Gumi, is not too comfortable with the goings on in the nation’s political turf, particularly the build-up to 2015 general elections. He warns that “anything short of free and fair elections amounts to a declaration of war!”
BY OUR CORRESPONDENT
The popular and historic Sultan Bello Mosque in Kaduna every Sundays from 4pm to 5.30pm is a centre of attraction and huge patronage by the Muslim Ummah. The gathering is usually equal and sometimes more than the congregation that comes to the mosque for Friday prayers. Students that seek for Islamic knowledge as well as elites and even elders from within and outside Kaduna sacrificed every Sundays to listen to the highly educative and analytical teachings of the outspoken, fearless and revered Saudi educated Islamic scholar, Sheikh Dr. Ahmad Abubakar Mahmud Gumi on a book entitled “Assiyasatu Shar’iya fi Islahir Sa’iy War’ra Iyya”, meaning the “knowledge and teaching of politics in Islam” written by Sheikhul Islam Ahmad Ibn Abdulhalim Ibn Taimiyya.
Apart from the unequal attendance by Islamic faithful at the Sultan Bello mosque every Sunday to listen to Sheikh Gumi who convened western and Islamic education and is widely regarded as a powerhouse of knowledge particularly in Islamic jurisprudence, his teachings is being communicated live to other followers across the nation and the world through Youtube and on facebook.
His Sultan Bello mosque Sunday teaching of 29th of Jumada Ula 1435AH, which is equivalent to 30th of March 2014 is particularly exceptional. Gumi described the visit of Sultan Sa’ad Abubakar and other members of the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs to President Goodluck Jonathan penultimate week to protest the lopsidedness against Muslims in the composition of the members of the National Conference as hypocritical and one that is clearly against the interest of Islam. Sheikh Gumi said in view of the lackluster manner the president treated them and the failure of President Jonathan to address their legitimate grievances, Sultan Sa’ad should have recall all the Muslims that are participating in the conference and demand for justice and nothing more. Gumi said the Sultan of Sokoto is not actually representing the interest of Muslims but the interest of a selfish few that have no regard for Islam. He predicted that the National Conference will fail and that anything short of free and fair elections in 2015 by President Jonathan is a declaration of war against the people. The learned scholar also questioned the SSS jail break and insisted that while terrorism of any form by any religion should not be tolerated and must be crushed, the SSS jail break according to him is just a plot to eliminate Muslim suspects in detention at the SSS and wondered why the detainees were kept for such a long time without prosecuting them if indeed there are evidences of terrorism against them. Sheikh Gumi was categorical that the government of President Jonathan is the real terror and Boko Haram in Nigeria.
Excerpts:
“As usual on Sundays we have study sessions on this book “Assiyasatu Shari’yya fi Islahir Sa’iy War’ra Iyya”. Sheikhul Islam Ibn Taimiya wrote the book to teach adherents of the religion its political concepts.
Logically, it is wrong to ignore the whole with the pretext that you cannot do all, you should at least do a part of it.
It’s like a hungry man expecting a loaf of bread for he is only able to get half a loaf it would be wrong to refuse to eat because it is not the whole loaf. You should eat what you get and wait to get more and not to refuse eating it at all. This is the concept of Islamic Religion “you should fear Allah as much as you can”.
One should practice the Islamic religion according to his ability. He should practice what he can. You cannot ignore the entire religion because you cannot practice the whole. Just practice what you can of the religion. That is why this lesson is important.
We are now in an age, practicing a system of life that was mentioned by the holy prophet (SAW). He said “you should hurry towards good deeds before problems emerge.” Their problems might deter the practice of good deeds; that is why you are asked to hurry and practice good deeds before they emerge. You should practice them any time you have the opportunity. You might be in a position to do good today, which you might not be able to have the opportunity tomorrow.
Hence when problems emerge one should look around and see what he can be do and do it. What one cannot do, one should weigh and see what he can do of it. One should see from it, what will be of benefit to the people and do it. That thing you can do is now what is refered to as shariah.
That was where we stopped in own three weeks of study. This is the actual problem that has not been understood. This is something that is accepted by the entire Muslim scholars because it is stated in the Qur’an and the traditions of the holy prophet (SAW). They all accept that what is practiced is only that which could be practiced as no one could practice everything. The prophet said that not for the weakness of my followers, I would have joined every group of fighters to battle field but if he is to attend, then all the companions would also attend because whosoever does not attend is a hypocrite. Hence it is only what the people can do that they are placed on we are now in the age; the age in which we outline our interests as believers and do it accordingly.
Last week I showed you someone who said that he is not afraid and that it is not the Fulanis that usually attack people. Somebody that saw him said he knows him and that one of his relations has been killed.
Another person brought the story of another group and it is good for us to see it. One of the most disheartening things we are facing in this country is the lack of information. Whenever information is hidden to people then an opportunity has been given to the devil to cause disunity among the people.
Why is everybody pointing accusing finger on the government on the issue of terrorism in Nigeria? The reason is simple, it is done in secret and no one has the required information. If the government is honestly fighting terrorism why the secrecy? It is that secrecy and lack of transparency that is making everybody to accuse government of foul play.
Last week I gave an example of containers full of arms that were intercepted at the port. It was mentioned in a newspaper called Vanguard that newsmen were instructed not to publish the story that 13 containers of arms have been intercepted. They gave their reason as the interest of national security. How could this kind of secrecy be the way of protecting security? But the pressmen went ahead and mentioned it; they mentioned it because the containers are shipments from somewhere. They did this because it is going to be linked to Muslims. The whereabout of the containers is now a mystery; those arrested are also a secret. Today we are hearing that there is exchange of gunshots around the SSS headquarters in Abuja. Nobody has information of what is exactly happening; why wouldn’t the pressmen be invited to go and see for themselves? It is this kind of lack of transparency that is making the people to be accusing them. An honest and truthful person has nothing to hide. All they are telling the public is that it is a detainee that is attempting to seize weapon from one of the guards in an attempt to break away. A person with handcuffs that knows that the entire area is guarded is what they are telling the public is attempting escape. It is now being said that 18 of them have so far been killed.
These detainees are all suspects who are yet to be taken to court. Nobody knows the truth of what is happening with the occurrence of this kind of issue, who is suppose to be the one to address the nation?
We need an explanation. Who are the 18 people that have been killed? Are they Muslims or Christians? Who is usually arrested and tortured in the name of Boko Haram in this nation? Is it a Muslim or a Christian? Nobody doubts that they are Muslims. We have heard of arm catch in church but no Christian has been arrested in the name of Boko Haram. Muslims are always the victims since it is the Muslims under detention that are being killed, then there is need for the Muslims working with the agencies to explain what is happening to the Muslims. This is necessary to clear doubt and suspicions. They should make the Muslims we trust to say to us what happened; it is wrong to kill innocent people and accuse them of jail break and claim to be secretive about it.
What is disturbing is that somebody came and explained something, which we have recorded and we have his phone number; it is necessary for us to be political and smart in this issue.
This person was arrested with huge amount of money. His boss is a politician, he was on an errand to Kano when he was arrested. He was taken to Abuja and those that arrested him were speaking a certain language. He said he was kept in detention in an underground cell for 3 months. The cell was very misty as a result of the air condition. They were tortured. He was not taken to court, nor was he accused of anything until he spent one year, when he was suddenly released we have his picture and statement. If the government is honest it should make things clear for the people.
If they claim that some of their staff have been killed, they should show them to the public and let the people see those that are injured. They will not do that because it is the Muslims that are the victims. This is also because the Muslims have no voice. That is why they do what they wish to us.
We have heard of some Muslims going to see President Jonathan in the name of Nigerian Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs to complain that the Muslims have been marginalized in the recent conference. Those Muslim leaders are all hypocrites. They are useless hypocrites. It is not the issue of going to say that the Muslims have been marginalized, it is the issue of going to say that the conference is useless and we call for its dissolution.
The issue of peace in this country is the issue of religion to us. We have signed for peace to reign in the country based on the constitution. Nobody can change the constitution until two third of Nigerians accept it. No one can divide Nigeria until two third of Nigerians accept it. The conference is useless. The conference is more of a “declaration of war, civil war”. It is a war; whatever is the result of the conference it is war because we do not accept, so it get ready for war. People are being deceived and killed. How can a person be detained and killed for no just course while we just sit down and watch? Everyone knows these infidels, they are hypocrites. People are being killed on daily basis and no one is saying anything.
Allah is now showing it to us, no one should fear anything, they are not strong, all the plans of the devil are weak. They are all afraid of dying and they can do nothing, by Allah there is nothing they can do to us. But the Constitution must be adhered to and everyone be given his right and share of everything and live in peace. Whosoever does not accept this and wants to secede or bring something new must be fought against in defense of that constitution; whosoever he is even if he is the president. Whosoever is going to divide Nigeria must be taught against and the constitution be protected, as whosoever is killed protecting the constitution has died in the course of God and he is a martyr. We need peace and this problem is even greater than war. How can we be sitting down allowing them to be killing innocent people? They have gathered criminals from our midst and are arming and financing them to destroy innocent people. There is a former Naval staff, Murtala Nyako. He made a statement in America that should be pondered upon by everyone. Let’s not forget that he is a military man and he mentioned this in America in the presence of the Americans. He said that he is afraid Nigerian is in a situation similar to that of 1966. That a particular region has taken over the mantle of power and is killing the northern leaders silently and that he is one of those to be killed.
A southerner stated on the net that they should not be disturbed or worry even if it is a coup that is taking place because Obasanjo has already finished with the Hausa/Fulani. There is, therefore, nothing they can do again and cannot rule the country ever again. Do you think what he said is wrong? What he said is true.
Even if it is a coup, it contradicts the constitutional provisions. Do you think he was lying when he said it?
No, he was saying the truth.
Even if a coup is staged, it is a violation of the constitution. This conference is useless because we have already signed to live together, both Muslims and non-Muslims irrespective of tribe. We have agreed to live together based on some requirements and these agreements are contained in the constitution that we should live peace.
Everyone should be given his quota in the forces; everyone should be given his share of the nation’s wealth. It is based on their agreements that we are living. Whosoever breaks these laws, it becomes an obligation to fight him. If he is using arms to break us then arms should be taken up against him. But it is wrong to allow them to be breaking the agreements in the country. Thin is forbidden.
And to the legislature. They have all the power to legislate but unfortunately they are quiet while another legislative body is formed. Their powers have been usurped while they just seat watching. All they are after is what will get, but of what good will be the money to him when Nigeria disintegrates?
Therefore the conference is useless- they are only wasting their time since we have not signed in acceptance. Who do we mean when we say we? We mean we Muslims have not signed for it.
Those people you selected are not requested nor nominated by the Muslims. The people should be allowed to choose their representatives so that whatever they decide would be in this name. If there is going to be excision or unity then you can go along.
What we are trying to prove today is clear, let everyone be advised. There are wild people among us that are being used in destroying us. May Allah guide us.
Somebody called me this moving and said there is a village in southern Kaduna where soldiers launched an attack killing some fulanis.
How could they be saying these things? They are truly foolish villagers. It is also possible for them to be used for propaganda, to show the world that they are guilty so that when they are attacked, no one will say anything and they have already commenced. A villager given AK 47 and money and be filmed. How much is the life of humans worth that you will collect money and go and kill them?
The ignorance of our people is extreme; you should know that whosoever brings arms to you wants you to cheat your people. If he knows that you are going to use it against him, he would not give it to you. That is why all the atrocities are limited to the northern Nigeria alone. The atrocities have only been taking place in the north since the coming of Jonathan.
The Tribune newspaper came and interviewed me. The reporter said Murtala Nyako said that those financing the Boko Haram to terrorize the people are from the South South. Nyako even went further to say that the government is directly involved. The South south haven said they are the face of Boko Haran, it is just that it is now beyond them that is why they started saying what they we saying. They are suspected.
Now if all the gates to this mosque are shut and something is stolen, while all the gates are locked. Definitely it is one of us that has stolen that thing hence there is suspicion. We know that there is sense in it. They are accusing the northern leaders and politicians that they are the ones that have brought Boko Haram and now that it is beyond them, they are financing it.
Let’s use our senses. There are 3 of these groups being suspected, the first group against whom suspicion was raised were those suspected by Jonathan. He was the first to raise suspicion.
The second person that raised suspicion was Azazi when he said something similar. People are saying that he accused the PDP of financing Boko Haram. This is not the actual thing they meant. What he said was that the Boko Haram crisis is a crisis as a result of PDP. He said it is the PDP that brought a law that does not exist in the constitution. That law is that of power rotation. That is where the problem is when the north lost their chance to rule they stated the crisis. There is similarity between what Azazi said and what the president also said.
Jonathan blamed the north, and Azazi also said that it is the northerners that are financing Boko Haram so that they can destroy the Jonathan administration. To them, we the northern are the cause of Boko Haram.
Hence suspicion number one is against the northern politicians. The secondary suspicion is the actual Boko Haram who does not accept western education, politics and joining the army; and others whose leaders were killed. They said they will take revenge.
Lastly are the ones we are accusing. We are accusing Jonathan and some security agents he planted within the military and the state security service but not in the police. These are the ones being suspected by the northerners.
I can remember Buhuri saying that the biggest Boko Haram is the Federal Government. It is in the news. Jonathan is suspecting us and we are suspecting him of Boko Haram.
Let’s analyze this and see who exactly is Boko Haram. This man Azazi that accused the northerners of Boko Haram should not lose sight of the fact that it is known to all, that he has been handed thirteen containers of arms which he is yet to explain their whereabouts. Who apart from them can handle arms? These arms we are talking about require millions of dollars to procure. Arms trade is similar to drugs trade in the international market.
There are dealers who deal specifically in arms who are not concerned about who is going to be killed with the arms. All they need is dollars and they supply the arms to you.
From among all the suspects who has access to such cash? Is it the northern leaders or Jonathan and Azazi? Who is in possession of such huge amount of money?
More so, if it is the northern leaders that want to destabilize the Jonathan government would they be attacking the north or the southern part of the country? Would it ever be possible for one to be attacking himself in Maiduguri, Kaduna, Kano in the name of destabilizing the Jonathan administration? This is not reasonable at all.
Had it been the leaders of those financing the Boko Haram are northerners, definitely the attacks would not be in the north but in the southern parts. But all the attacks are in the north alone. You know there was even an attack in Sokoto. There were attacks in Katsina, Daura and Kano, virtually everywhere has been attacked. Bombs have exploded in virtually everywhere.
If viewed without sentiments, the issue is even beyond suspicion, it is a reality. Firstly it is not the northern leaders that are guilty of the attacks. The remaining suspicious groups are the real Boko Haram and Jonathan and Azazi and those he planted in his security.
Everyone is aware that the real Boko Haram has no access to such money. They are also not enlightened enough to be so sophisticated. For instance the Fulanis you have just watched in the video do not in any way look like Boko Haram. Look at how they are fooling them and calling millions to them. Do they even know the meaning of million? It is even possible that these villagers have never held a bundle of banknotes? How could these foolish villagers be able to go and purchase arms, get them shipped and clear them from the ports?
They are only fools that are being used. It is against this that Nyako spoke out, he said that our people are being arrested and displayed as terrorists but what the government is failing to do is to tell us the source of the money. They don’t even allow the pressmen close to them to listen to what they say. That is why the people are afraid.
Look at what happened today in Abuja, now that people are becoming suspicious of the government, they want to eliminate those who know the plans. If there are from the arrested suspects those who could speak out then it is dangerous for them to allow them. That is why they have decided to kill them under the pretext that they attempted jailbreak. How could nineteen people be killed in a place that is well secured with armed security men?
Let’s assume it is this AK47 rifle that they have seized from the security, how many bullets are there in the gun? When they shoot and shoot the bullets will finish and they will be caught. Even if it will take a month, if nothing at least hunger will make them surrender. But why should eighteen people be summarily killed? Are you clear with what is happening?
There was a person arrested in Kogi named Nazifi, who was lecturing after graduating in Islamic Studies. He was accused of being the brain behind Boko Haram. A certain lawyer approached me as I was leaving the mosque and told me that when the man was taken to court, he told me a lot of things in the five minutes we interacted with him.
I told him to bring his name and address if he accepts what he said to be published. He is just an ordinary lawyer and he is fearless, unlike these useless leaders of ours. The youths are not afraid. He agreed to say it anywhere if he is called upon.
He said this arrested man told him that when he was arrested for five days and placed in handcuffs with his hands in his back, he was tortured to accept that he knows the so called Boko Haram members that were arrested whereas he never knew them. He said he was beaten until he fainted. That was why he promised them that he was going to say that he knew them, but when they got to court he said he never knew them.
What is disturbing here is that he said it is the Izala that is the Boko Haram. I then saw that this is beyond Nigeria, it has now been to Europe. This is because the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt are known not to be carrying arms. They are only politicians and this is known to all. They came out and elected a leader in an election but he was ousted in a coup. Today in Egypt the Muslim Brotherhood has been declared a terrorist group. This is because the most influential religious group in Egypt is the Muslim Brotherhood. This means that if a group is inclined towards Islam and is seen to be influential, it is then accused of terrorism.
This lawyer that told me this thing is an official of the SSS and a Christian. This implies that they are planning to clampdown on the Izala group under the pretext that they are the Boko Haram simply because of the influence the Izala group is having on the people. This shows that the issue is not only of Nigeria it is international and the leaders are stooges.
The Muslim Brotherhood that were accused of terrorism are not terrorists and this is known to all. But unfortunately the Arab nations including Saudi Arabia who are stooges of the West have joined their bosses in declaring the Muslim Brotherhood a terrorist group.
What is surprising is that Qatar as tiny as it is declared that the Muslim Brotherhood is not a terrorist group. The Muslim Brotherhood has been called terrorists because they have joined Islam with politics, this very politics as provided by the Sharia which we are now teaching you.
They don’t like the idea of politics being cleansed to suit religious prescriptions. That is why they call them terrorists. All they are planning is to clampdown on the people and say they are Izala and they are terrorists. Even our aid group members have once been arrested in the name of Boko Haram but the plan failed. Everyone knows that Malam has mentioned several times that there should not be any crisis. No matter where you go in this country and make every effort you can to associate Izala with terrorism you will fail. But this is what they are trying to do.
On the recently suspended Central Bank leader Sanusi Lamido, an adviser to the president wrote a letter on the internet telling the world that Sanusi Lamido is the one financing the Boko Haram to launch more attacks while the adviser himself was exposed and accused by a non-Muslim of the crime he was accusing Sanusi of. This is simply an example. People hardly change.
The first bomb that was exploded, Jonathan wanted to link it with Babangida because he was afraid of him at that time. Some of IBB boys were caught and accused of the bomb blast. They lied against them. Luckily at that time MEND was not hypocritical, Jonathan wanted it to be hypocritical, he was looking for a way to break away from Nigeria.
Henry Okah said they were instructed to say that the north is to blame for the bomb blast. He stated this on Al-Jazeerah satellite news.
A donkey is always a donkey. With the Boko Haram accusation against Sanusi Lamido by Jonathan’s adviser it is clear that he will never change.
A public commentator asked why the presidency refused to take any action on the claims about Sanusi Lamido. They are trying to link Boko Haram to other people always. Why? This is because they are involved. This is because it concerns the north alone.
It is now clear that Lagos is not going for PDP, it is now APC. Everyone is also aware that Kano has changed course likewise Sokoto and Maiduguri, and places like Yola though I cannot tell where Kaduna is heading to. In this kind of situation where major Nigerian cities are not with PDP how can Jonathan contest for presidency?
They want to impose themselves by force on Nigeria whether they like it or not. This is what Murtala Nyako mentioned before the Westerners who are also hypocrites. If he would contest for presidency I will vote for him. We need people like him that are fearless. We are tired of hypocrisy.
Therefore MEND has now changed and is keeping quiet in support of the atrocities. Eighteen people were killed in a bomb blast in Abuja and MEND refused to comment. They have now changed their style, instead of them to blast bombs in the name of MEND they do it in the name of Boko Haram.
They are the ones bombing the nation and assassinating individuals. The northern Christians are the ones to pity. They should understand that the southerners are not with them and that all they are after is tribalism and sectionalism. No matter how you wear your cross they don’t give a damn.
When they wanted to create crises between northern Christians and Muslims they went and bombed a Church. The Northern Christians should understand something; the peace of your neighbor is also the peace you are enjoying. Wherever you have a neighbor you should be good to him. This is because it is the same good you have for him that you will be enjoying. The northern Christians should be good to the northern Muslims. If the Northern Muslim is in trouble then the northern Christian is also in trouble. It is better for them to join hands with the northern Muslims. This is a sermon for them.
We as Muslims should also preach good tidings to them and make them understand that we will never cheat them.
There is no way northern leaders will be accused of Boko Haram. No one can set fire in his own house. The only way out here is that of election. No one should accept any conference. They should rather call for fair elections and vote a good leader.
Any other thing that will be done apart from this is similar to declaration of war as it was done by Ojukwu during the Biafran war. He should be informed that anything short of free and fair election in 2015 is a declaration of war.
There should be a free and fair election and the real winner should be sworn in whosoever he is. This is the only thing that will bring peace to this country.
We are calling on Jonathan not to raise the anger of the Muslims. These things are mentioned by senior retired military officers like Murtala Nyako who is fearless. It has also been mentioned by Obasanjo.
Jonathan should be careful not to burn himself with that oil. Nigeria is a blessed nation with abundant resources. There is nothing you can do. If you are defeated in the elections you should accept your faith and hand over to the winner.
A highly respected politician has told me that Jonathan has told him that people think am a fool to hand over this power to somebody. You should remember that power is from God and give the mantle of power to the winner or else you will not rest in this world. For whosoever says he is going to hold on to the mantle of power that he does not deserve shall not enjoy the peace of this world.
I call on us not to engage in any crisis because they are after creating crisis, we should not give them the opportunity. All they are after is creating a problem so do not give them the chance. Live in peace.
All they are after is a war that will break Nigeria and it is not wise for this to be accepted. You have the number and you have the land and God has given you religion which they do not have. We are not drunkards.
Now is the time for us to be careful and make sure we bring back power”.