The Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has declared that no individual or group has the authority to restrict his movement anywhere within the country, following renewed controversy over his visit to Ibadan, Oyo State, late last year.
Gumi, who has recently faced public criticism and allegations bordering on attempts to promote “Islamisation” narratives in parts of the South-West, insisted that his presence in Ibadan was purely in a representative capacity and not at the invitation of any southern Muslim group or individual.
In a statement posted on his Facebook page on Tuesday, the cleric said his visit to the ancient city was under the mandate of northern Islamic scholars, stressing that his role was often misrepresented in politically charged discussions.
“I quite understand now how Islamophobia is shaping politics in the South-West and why I was unnecessarily dragged into their dirty local politics,” he wrote.
He further maintained: “I was in Ibadan, not by the invitation of any South-West Muslim individual or group, but as a representative of the Coalition of Northern Muslim Ulama. Can anybody stop me from going anywhere in Nigeria?”
The cleric’s remarks come amid lingering debates over claims that armed groups involved in kidnappings in parts of Oyo State allegedly demanded the introduction of Sharia law as part of conditions for releasing abducted victims.
However, one of the victims, the principal of Community High School, Esiele, Mrs. Rachael Alamu, recently dismissed such claims in a viral video, stating that the abductors never made any demand relating to Sharia implementation or a ₦1bn ransom. She explained that the gunmen instead demanded the release of their associates in government custody.
Similarly, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) also rejected the Sharia-related claims, describing them as false and politically motivated.
The group argued that such narratives were being pushed by individuals it accused of attempting to discredit Islam and its adherents in the South-West.
Gumi’s visit to Ibadan on November 19, 2025, where he featured as a special guest speaker at the Southern Nigerian Ulama Summit held at the University of Ibadan, has continued to generate mixed reactions in political and religious circles.
During the visit, he also attended a courtesy meeting with a cross-section of Muslim scholars from both the North and South, a development that further intensified public discourse around his role in inter-regional Islamic engagements.
Despite the controversies, the cleric maintains that his movements within Nigeria remain a constitutional right, insisting that he will not be deterred by criticism or public perception.
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