President Muhammadu Buhari National Security Adviser, Maj-Gen. Babagana Monguno (retd.) explains that Sheikh Gumi, the popular Islamic scholar, is constitutionally permitted to dialogue with anyone in the country, bandits inclusive.
Babagana said this during a briefing in the State House in Aso Rock Villa, Abuja.
It would be recalled that Gumi had been holding meetings with bandits in the forest between Niger and Zamfara state; he had also pleaded with the federal government to amnesty to the bandits whom he says were fighting an ethnic war.
Gumi had also claimed that the Christian soldiers were the ones killing them; reacting to the comment, the Nigeria Army warned to desist from such a divisive statement.
Concerned Nigerians, including a former aide to President Goodluck Jonathan, Reno Omokri, had called on the Department of State Services to arrest and probe the Kaduna-based cleric over his romance with the bandits.
When queried on Thursday to comment on the Gumi’s alleged alliance with the bandits, Monguno said the cleric only believes in his method; that’s why he’s doing what he’s doing.
Adding to that, Monguno reveals that the government believes in two approaches in dealing with banditry and terrorist, combat and dialogue; he further reveals he met with Gumi in Kaduna lately.
The NSA said, “Sheikh Gumi is doing what he is doing because he believes in what he is doing. He is a Nigerian. Under the constitution, he can talk with anybody; he can deal with anybody. I met with him (Gumi) when I went with the service chiefs to Kaduna. We generally spoke during the meeting, and he resolved to help the government; we are waiting. That’s all I can say; we are waiting for him.”
