Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Lere Olayinka, has questioned the motive behind Islamic cleric Sheikh Ahmad Gumi’s recent comments directed at Niger State Governor Mohammed Umar Bago. In a post on his X account, Olayinka asked, “What exactly is his interest?”, reacting to Gumi’s caution that the governor should be more careful with his choice of words while discussing insecurity and Fulani communities.
The exchange followed Governor Bago’s call on Fulani leaders in Niger State to caution their children against involvement in kidnapping and other criminal activities. The governor also stated that Usman dan Fodio, whom he described as a peaceful Islamic leader, spread Islam without resorting to kidnapping or banditry. In response, Gumi warned that excessive rhetoric could be harmful to good governance in a multi-religious democratic society and urged the governor to exercise greater restraint in his public comments.
Olayinka’s reaction has since generated widespread discussion on social media, with many Nigerians expressing differing opinions on Gumi’s intervention and the governor’s remarks. The development adds to the ongoing national conversation on tackling insecurity while ensuring that public statements do not inflame ethnic or religious tensions. As of the time of reporting, neither Governor Bago nor Sheikh Gumi had publicly responded to Olayinka’s latest remarks.
