Popular writer and political analyst, Reno Omokri has backed Kaduna-based Muslim cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi’s proposition to the federal government to negotiate with the bandits who kidnapped about 287 schoolchildren from Kuriga Government Secondary and LEA Primary Schools in the Chikun Local Government Area of the state.
The controversial sheik says he is open to creating a line of communication between the government and the armed bandits as he warned the Tinubu-led administration to negotiate and not act like the Buhari government who were against negotiation.
Omokri, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in a post on X (formerly called Twitter), said “Perhaps it is time we listen to Gumi” as far as it “will save human lives”.
He added: “… I can live with it. Listen, we have dialogued with belligerent non-state actors within Nigeria in the past. I do not want to name specific groups in order not to offend. And those dialogues brought peace to the South. We can do the same in other parts of the country. If dialogue and amnesty can solve our security challenges better than force and bullets, as happened in Northern Ireland, then we should not be ashamed to go for it and save lives. What do you think?”
His recent comment is contrary to a 2021 post where is accused the Islamic cleric of indulging in Public Relations for bandits.
In the tweet at the time, the former aide to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan wondered why the Federal Government was prosecuting secessionists like Nnamdi Kanu and Sunday Igboho while Gumi was a free man.
“Sheikh Gumi never speaks for the victims. But when terrorist bandits are affected, he speaks.
“How long shall a government that is after Igboho and Kanu continue tolerating the PR work Gumi is doing for terrorists bandits?
“Gumi is an inspiration to these terrorists,” Omokri tweeted at the time.
The kidnap of the 280 school students occurred barely 24 hours after the bandits abducted 200 internally displaced women in Borno State. The women were kidnapped in Ngala, the headquarters of Gambarou Ngala in Borno State while fetching firewood in the bush, The Punch reported.
Meanwhile, the Kaduna State government says it will not negotiate with the bandits as it dismissed the viral report that it had hired a private negotiator to facilitate the release of the victims.
I used to be against Sheikh Gumi’s push for dialoguing with bandits. However, experience is the best teacher. The man has a point. We have been using force, and they have returned more forcefully. Perhaps it is time we listen to Gumi and try dialogue. I wouldn’t say I like it.…
— Reno Omokri (@renoomokri) March 12, 2024
