Nobody Can Stop Me From Visiting Ibadan, Gumi Fires Critics

Popular and controversial Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has dismissed criticisms over his visit to Ibadan, Oyo State, late last year, saying nobody can stop him from visiting any part of Nigeria.

Naija News reports that Gumi, in a post on his Facebook page on Tuesday, said his visit to Ibadan had been wrongly linked to what he described as “dirty local politics” in the South-West.

The cleric had come under criticism in some quarters following allegations that his visit was part of an attempt to promote northern Islamic ideologies and Islamise Oyo State.

Reacting to the controversy, Gumi said he was not invited to Ibadan by any Muslim individual or group in the South-West.

He explained that he attended the event as a representative of northern Islamic scholars.

“I quite understand now how Islamophobia is shaping politics in SW (South-West) and why I was unnecessarily dragged into their dirty local politics,” he wrote.

“I was in Ibadan, not by the invitation of any SW Muslim individual or group, but as a representative of the Coalition of Northern Muslim Ulama.

“Can anybody stop me from going anywhere in Nigeria?”

Gumi’s response came amid controversy over claims that abductors of some victims in the Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State demanded the introduction of Sharia law in the state as part of the conditions for their release.

The claim was, however, dismissed by one of the victims of the abduction.

The principal of Community High School, Esiele, Oyo State, Mrs Rachael Alamu, while speaking from captivity in a viral video, said the gunmen did not demand the introduction of Sharia law or a ₦1bn ransom as reported in some quarters.

According to her, the abductors demanded the release of their associates currently in the custody of Nigerian authorities.

Gumi visited Ibadan on Wednesday, November 19, 2025, where he attended the Southern Nigerian Ulama Summit held at the University of Ibadan.

He served as a special guest and speaker at the event.

During the visit, the cleric also joined other prominent Muslim scholars from the North and South for a courtesy session.