Mallam Baba Yusuf, a Nigerian strategist, policy adviser and Group Chief Executive Officer of the Global Investment and Trade Company (GITC), has criticised the continued advocacy for negotiations with bandits and terrorists by Islamic cleric Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, describing some of the cleric’s public interventions as misleading and irresponsible.
Yusuf made the remarks during an interview on Channels Television on Saturday, May 30, 2026, while responding to questions about ongoing debates over whether the government should engage in negotiations with armed groups operating across parts of the country.
The discussion centred on comments frequently made by Sheikh Gumi, who has argued that some bandits are willing to lay down their arms and that dialogue may be more effective than military operations in addressing insecurity.
Responding to the issue, Yusuf said he had deliberately refrained from publicly addressing the cleric for a long time but felt compelled to speak out. “To be honest with you, I’ve been restraining myself for a very long time not to speak in public to Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, with profound respect to him,” he said.
Yusuf noted that, as a Muslim and a northerner, he disagreed with Gumi’s position and questioned whether the cleric’s public conduct reflected the values of responsible Islamic leadership.
“First of all, I am a Muslim. Secondly, I’m a northerner, and I think he is not representing what we should stand for as Muslims, whether as Ahlus Sunnah or any other seriously, moderate and responsible Muslim,” he stated.
He acknowledged Gumi’s background as a retired military officer, religious leader and Islamic scholar but argued that the cleric should reconsider his approach to issues surrounding banditry and terrorism.
“Sheikh Gumi is a retired military officer, Sheikh Gumi is a leader of people, and he’s an Islamic scholar. But this behavior that has refused to go away, or he has refused to stop it. I think people like us should be able to tell him it is time he stops and have the real fear of Allah and stop misrepresenting what Islam stands for,” Yusuf said.
The policy adviser further suggested that Gumi should clearly define his role in national affairs if he intends to pursue political ambitions or continue involvement in discussions relating to armed groups.
“If he wants to be a politician, he should come out and tell us what he wants to do, because some of them have started declaring for candidacy, which is their fundamental human right, so he should not hide behind anything,” he said.
“Secondly, if he wants to be a negotiator of bandit under any guise, also he should take a clear position so that Nigeria will take a clear position, you know, in that regard,” he added.
Yusuf also expressed concern about the potential influence of such messages on young people in Northern Nigeria, stressing the need for responsible leadership and guidance.
“But having said that, I think it is becoming borderline irresponsible for such a person that we used to look with a high level of respect, to start misguiding people, misguiding people because we have teeming youths in Northern Nigeria that are needing, you know, the right kind of leadership, the right kind of direction,” he added…..See More
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