Gumi is now the number one trending subject on Twitter after Obi and his running mate, Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, visited him in Kaduna. The reactions that followed have been torrent.
By Ishaya Ibrahim, News Editor
Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, paid a courtesy visit to the Kaduna-based Islamic cleric, Ahmed Gumi on Monday, October 17 in Kaduna.
The visit has generated mixed reactions because of the terrorist tag given to Gumi by some of the vocal supporters of Obi on Twitter.
One of them, @firstladyship, said on September 14 that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, stands disadvantaged at the poll for appearing in the same photograph with Gumi and Tukur Mamu. She said via a tweet: “The internet is awash with photos of Atiku, Sheikh Gumi & his Aide, Tukur Mamu. The DSS is investigating Mamu for ties to terrorism. Nigeria is crippled by banditry & Boko Haram. This has put Nigeria in serious food & humanitarian crises. The optics are bad for Atiku, so bad.”
She added: “If Sheikh Gumi’s Aide, Mamu, is part of an international terrorist network, then Gumi must be one of them. David Hundeyin wrote extensively on this subject, he mentioned names. The DSS cannot feign ignorance. Who are those financing terrorism from Dubai? We need details.”
Gumi is now the number one trending subject in Nigeria after Obi and his running mate, Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, visited him in his home in Kaduna. The reactions that followed, have been mixed.
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A tweet from @letter_to_jack said: “PO himself has never said anything wrong about the guy (Gumi), it is some of the self-righteous fans who have insulted Gumi and name-tagged other candidates they’ve seen with popular people of questionable characters in the past that are facing this difficulty of balancing their views.”
@Waspapping_ said: “Sheik Gumi will finally be free from the terrorist tag on this App (Twitter). He’ll finally join other well-meaning Nigerians as part of the rescue Nigeria mission from the hands of the corrupt.”
@Dawa911 said: “Gumi is topping the chart because Obi visited him in Kaduna. Suleiman Obi aka Okwute is a perfect unifier. Lobbying for votes is politics. Without votes, Competency won’t work in isolation. Get votes first before we correct bigotry by appointing competent leaders.”
@Dr_dabo1 said: “PO visiting Gumi doesn’t change the status of how I’m seeing Gumi as a terrorist sympathizer. Don’t forget that PO wants to be Nigeria’s president, not a particular region, so he has to carry everybody along including the bad eggs. After elections, he can segregate during the appointment.”
@novieverest said: “Peter Obi is contesting to be president of Nigeria as a whole. He will dialogue with everyone, even the ones you feel are your enemies. Sheikh Gumi isn’t the only Nigerian Peter Obi will meet that you won’t like. He will meet every Nigerian. Thank you.”
