Sheikh Gumi: “If Nnamdi Kanu Shows Remorse, I Will Advocate for His Amnesty”

Islamic cleric Sheikh Ahmad Gumi says he is willing to advocate for a pardon for the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu—on the condition that Kanu expresses remorse and publicly calls for peace.

Gumi made the remarks on Tuesday during an interview on Channels Television’s Morning Brief, where he discussed the state of insecurity in Nigeria.

Kanu was earlier convicted by the Federal High Court in Abuja on seven terrorism-related charges, including incitement of attacks on security personnel.

“This Kanu that was imprisoned for terrorism for agitating that our soldiers should be killed, if this same Kanu now will show remorse and also call for peace, honestly, I will be in the forefront in calling for his pardon and amnesty for him,” Gumi said.

He also referenced historical precedents for such gestures:
“Look, Shagari, our president, we are from the same town. Shagari gave amnesty to Ojukwu. Look at Umar Yar’Adua; he gave amnesty to the Niger Delta militants, who have also committed acts of terrorism. So, this is how we are.”

Gumi reiterated his long-standing position that Nigeria must adopt more non-kinetic strategies in addressing insecurity, especially in the North. He argued that sustained force-based responses are insufficient.

“We have people who are ready to put down their arms, then why do you always decide it has to be kinetic?” he asked.

“Even America could not succeed in Afghanistan, even Israel could not succeed in a small strip of land. Our army is not designed for the gorilla; no army is designed for the kind of people we are showing now, no army is designed for it.”

He said several militant groups in the North have recently shown willingness to embrace dialogue.

“If you have been following, the Fulani herdsmen have been calling for peace. When you call them for peace, they come with their guns for many reasons.

“Can you call IPOB for peace? Can you call Boko Haram? I think the former president has called for peace, and they came, but now it’s difficult to call for peace again. So, anybody who inclines to peace, I’m with him, I’m telling you.”

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