From Victor Osula, Abuja
The Federal Government has invited a Kaduna-based Islamic cleric, Ahmad Gumi, for questioning regarding his remarks concerning the activities of bandits in Nigeria.
Minister of Information and Orientation, Mohammed Idris, made this known while briefing State House correspondents at the end of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting held at the State House in Abuja, on Monday.
Idtis who said Sheikh Gumi was not “above the law”, said the government has deemed it necessary to invite him for questioning.
Recently, Gumi called upon the Tinubu-led government to collaborate with him to negotiate with bandits. He also disputed Federal Government’s published list of Nigerians sporing terrorism, saying that Nigerians are involved. In addition, he claimed that security agencies know the whereabout of bandits as they had always accompanied him during his several negotiation missions.
He cautioned Tinubu against repeating what he characterised as the mistake committed by former President Muhammadu Buhari, who declined to engage in dialogue with bandits.
“I am ready to lead a holistic dialogue between the government and bandits. It is a religious duty for me to do so for peace.
“I hope the present government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will listen by dialoguing with the bandits because the past administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari refused to do so,” he said.
