Popular Islamic cleric, Ahmad Gumi, has defended his visit to Ibadan last year amid criticism that he was promoting Northern Islamic ideologies in Oyo State.
In a Facebook post on Tuesday, Gumi said he visited Ibadan as a representative of the Coalition of Northern Muslim Ulama and was not invited by any Muslim group or individual in the South-West.
The cleric maintained that no one could prevent him from travelling to any part of Nigeria, adding that he now understood how “Islamophobia” was influencing politics in the region.
“I was in Ibadan, not by the invitation of any South-West Muslim individual or group, but as a representative of the Coalition of Northern Muslim Ulama. Can anybody stop me from going anywhere in Nigeria?” he wrote.
Gumi’s comments came amid controversy surrounding the recent abduction of students and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
A victim of the incident, Rachael Alamu, had dismissed reports that the kidnappers demanded the introduction of Sharia law in Oyo State, saying in a viral video that the abductors instead sought the release of their associates in government custody.
Similarly, Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) rejected claims that the kidnappers demanded Sharia, describing the report as false and aimed at damaging the image of Islam.
Gumi visited Ibadan on November 19, 2025, as a special guest and speaker at the Southern Nigerian Ulama Summit held at the University of Ibadan, where he also participated in a meeting involving prominent Muslim scholars from across the country.
