I was misunderstood, Gumi replies Army

RENOWNED Islamic scholar, Sheikh Ahmed Gumi, says his earlier statement accusing the Nigerian Army of religious bias was misunderstood.

Gumi said in a BBC interview today that his comments referred to the situation that prevailed in the Army 2010-2015. He noted that he has a good understanding of the Nigerian Army, being a retired soldier himself.

In a clip, the Islamic scholar, who has of recent become controversial because of his activities and statements around the various kidnapp cases in the north-west, was seen telling the bandits that soldiers are divided into Muslims and non-Muslims.

However, the Nigerian Army yesterday issued a strong statement cautioning Gumi against making divisive and disparaging utterances against the military institutions.

Army spokesman, Brig. Gen. Mohammed Yerima, in a statement yesterday titled, ‘Nigerian Army does not deploy its troops along ethnic or religious lines,’ had admonished the cleric and other “opinion merchants”  to exercise restraint and not drag the image and reputation of “one of the most reliable national institutions to disrepute.”

But Gumi said, “I saw the Army’s response. What I will say is that there is a misunderstanding in the issues. When I speak about the religious issue in the Army, I am not referring to today’s Army.

“The issue is from 2010-2015 when some people were in-charge and a lot of bad things happened.

“It is during that time that there were bombings everywhere. It happened in Jaji and we lost a popular Muslim general. Even, I was saved by God because they planted a bomb for me,” Gumi told BBC while reacting to the Army’s response.