Mufti of Yoruba Land defends Gummi, highlights Muslim protection of Christians in South West

By KEMI KASUMU

“During the EndSARS protest, Bowen (Baptist) University would have been set on fire. The deputy governor they asked to call us to assist them. We were the ones that chased the violent protesters away and we didn’t say because it was Christian property, we won’t save it from the attackers. All of those things we are doing are not for politics. We are doing it as part of our acts of worship to Allah.”

The Grand Mufti of Yoruba Land, Sheikh Daood Imran Molaasan, has defended Islamic cleric Sheikh Ahmad Gummi and cautioned individuals he accused of promoting ethnic and religious division in the South West.

In a video broadcast shared by Mufti Media, Molaasan urged those spreading what he described as falsehoods against Islam, Muslims, and Northerners to desist, warning that such actions would not yield positive outcomes.

The cleric stated that Muslims under his leadership in Iwo, operating through the Ta’awuunu Human Rights Initiative, have consistently worked to maintain peace and security for all residents in the region, regardless of religious affiliation. He emphasized that their efforts extend to Christians and adherents of other faiths.

Molaasan cited instances where Christian communities reportedly sought assistance from his group, including during a search for a missing child when police personnel were said to be unavailable. He also referenced the EndSARS protests, claiming that members of his group intervened to prevent damage to property, including at Bowen University, an educational establishment of Baptist Church.

He stressed that Islamic teachings mandate the protection of all people, irrespective of faith, and warned against stigmatizing Yoruba individuals who associate with Sheikh Gummi.

Addressing critics of Gummi, Molaasan described the cleric as highly educated, noting that he holds doctoral degrees in both Islamic and conventional education. He added that Gummi, a retired Nigerian Army officer and son of the late Islamic scholar Abubakar Gummi, had undertaken negotiations with bandits at the behest of the Federal Government and is often accompanied by police security.

The Mufti also dismissed claims linking him to Gummi’s invitation to a recent programme in Ibadan, stating that Gummi was officially escorted by security personnel and regularly interacts with prominent national figures.

Speaking in details, Sheikh Molaasan said, “Our main motive is seeking the pleasure of Allah. Second is peace and security of everybody, Muslim, Christian and pagan, to the best of our capability to provide this. We are still doing that till I speak.

“Where I live and operate from, come and ask: who have we hurt or behaved wickedly to? A Christian that is not hypocrite will tell you that we provide security for all – Christians and Muslims. Even Christians come to meet us to say, “Please help us”. In one church they were looking for a missing child and they went to the police station and the police people told them that, “There are no enough personnel on ground now but in that area, Ta’wuun people can assist you if you approach them.” Those Christians came to meet us. If we were radicals, would they have come to us?

“During the EndSARS protest, Bowen (Baptist) University would have been set on fire. The deputy governor they asked to call us to assist them. We were the ones that chased the violent protesters away and we didn’t say because it was Christian property, we won’t save it from the attackers. All of those things we are doing are not for politics. We are doing it as part of our acts of worship to Allah.

“It is a compulsory law of Allah that you must not open your eyes and somebody is in pain. Be it a Muslim, Christian or pagan, you must not watch him being killed, you must not watch him being cheated, you must not watch him being in need for help maybe of food and you deny him. You must not kill him, you must not hurt him. If you do it, the punishment you will get if done to a Muslim is what you will get for doing it to pagan. It is compulsory. That is our character and tradition as Muslims. That is why we are more normal than you.

“They now come on the internet and start screaming “Ahhh! Baba Mufti in Iwo is the one that went and brought Gummi o!” Do you know who Gummi is? Do you think Gummi’s brain is the same as yours? Gummi in Islamic education has PhD, in the conventional education, he has PhD, he is also the Khalifah (successor) of his father (late Sheikh Abubakar Gummi) and he is (retired) Nigerian Army officer.

“The peak of the matter is that, it was the government of Nigeria that sent him to do all the negotiations that he went to do with those people. He was sent by the Nigerian government. Till tomorrow, wherever you see him, he is always guarded by security men. Do policemen guard bandit?

“The programme he visited Ibadan to attend, although we don’t know how he was invited but like he was invited so we took were invited, security men escorted him there. He sits with Obasanjo, he sits with Tinubu’s son and governors. They all relate with him. But your is just to be unruly….,” he said.

Molaasan concluded by urging critics to verify facts before making allegations, reiterating his commitment to peaceful coexistence in the South West.