The Ohanaeze Youth Council (OYC), the pinnacle socio-cultural youth organization of the Igbo people worldwide, has taken cognizance of a highly incendiary statement attributed to Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, an Igbophobic Islamic scholar and cleric, which has been extensively reported in various media outlets. Sheikh Gumi’s recent recommendation to the federal government is to arm Igbo youths to counter IPOB has been noted by over 50 million Igbo youths worldwide.
Sheikh Ahmad Gumi’s recommendation to arm Igbo youths against the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) reveals his Igbophobic bias, demonstrating a lack of understanding that Igbos are the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) are Igbos. Additionally, Igbo youths are the same as the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), and the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) are Igbo youths.
We perceive Sheikh Ahmad Gumi’s statement as a revelation and conspiracy theory against Ndigbo, orchestrated during President Mohammadu Buhari’s administration, culminating in sponsoring unknown gunmen in SouthEast to annihilate Ndigbo from Nigeria.
Sheikh Ahmad Gumi’s statement suggesting the arming of Igbo youths against the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), a non-violent self-determination group, has revealed the dynamics of the Owerri Prison break in 2021, where notorious criminals were armed to release other criminals, causing havoc, unrest, arson, killings, and kidnappings in the Southeast, in a calculatef attempt by the former President Muhammadu Buhari-led federal government to discredit and demonize IPOB before international communities.
This recent statement of Sheikh Ahmad Gumi is a blatant attempt to deflect attention from his past misdeeds, including his alleged role in aiding and abetting terrorism during President Buhari’s administration. It is shocking that he has not been held accountable for his actions, which reportedly included facilitating the settlement of terrorists on behalf of the government.
Furthermore, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi’s involvement in planning a military coup, disguised as an “End Bad Governance” protest, alongside other northern leaders, is a serious cause for concern. His actions are threat to national security and stability, and he should be brought to justice immediately.
Sheikh Ahmad Gumi and his associates are disappointed that the Military coup, which they disguise as an “End Bad Governance Protest”, was not successful in the SouthEast and Igbo land at large.
Ahmad Sheikh Gumi was astonished that Igbo Youth or Indigenous People Of Biafra (IPOB) opted not to participate in the ‘End Bad Governance Protest’, a political motivated protest designed to disparage and overthrow President Bola Ahmed Tinubu led federal Government.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu should establish a special investigative unit comprising top security and intelligence personnel to probe the Owerri Prison break, expose the sponsors, and track down the over 1800 escaped inmates, 70% of whom are convicted armed criminals. These prison escapees and criminals allegedly have powerful backers, have established multiple hideouts, and are roaming freely in the Southeast, committing various crimes.
We urge the federal government, led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to establish a Special Independent Judiciary Commission Penal of Inquiry to probe the 2021 Owerri Prison break and Sheikh Ahmad Gumi’s activities from 2015 to date.
We have always been candid about our suspicion that the escalating insecurity trend in the Southeast is tied to the Owerri Prison break. Since Owerri Prison is equipped with CCTV cameras, we demand the release of the footage to reveal the identities of those behind this egregious crime against Ndigbo and the federal government of Nigeria.
We have consistently expressed our concerns regarding the brazen manner in which Unknown Gunmen operated in the Southeast during the period of intense violence, and how their confident, majestic, and bold demeanor has led us Igbos to suspect former President Mohammed Buhari, AGF Abubarka Malami, Sheikh Gumi, and their associates.
In order to achieve peace and tranquility in his administration, we recommend that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu consider issuing an executive order for the immediate arrest and detention of former President Mohammed Buhari, former Attorney General of the Federation Abubakar Malami, and Sheikh Ahmad Gumi for questioning regarding the Unknown Gunmen phenomenon in Southeast.
Following the 1966-1970 genocide against the Ndigbo, the Southeast region has witnessed a prolonged period of peace and harmony. Notably, from 1970 to 2021, a span of 51 years, the Southeast states experienced relative calm until the armed gang’s assault on Owerri Prison led to the release of over 1800 inmates.
It is clear that Mohammadu Buhari committed genocide against Ndigbo, his Government was dining with terrorist, fueled insecurity in SouthEast, often referred to as unknown gunmen, a concept we believe may have been conceived by Sheikh Ahmad Gumi to defame and categorize the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) as a terrorist organization, to annihilate Ndigbo as he has suggested today to arm some youths to launch attack in SouthEast.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu should demonstrate a patriotic, bold and courageous gesture by arresting former President Mohammadu Buhari, Abubakar Malami, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi and every other person’s in the North that have hand in sponsoring of Bandits and Boko Haram and Unknown Gun men.
Insecurity is responsible for around 60% of Nigeria’s economic woes; consequently, tackling the issues of Unknown Gunmen in the Southeast, Bandits, and Boko Haram in the North is essential to boosting Nigeria’s economy.
It is imperative that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu disregards the blackmail and conspiracies perpetrated by Sheikh Ahmad Gumi and his cohorts against Nnamdi Kanu and IPOB, and undertakes a peace-building project, while taking into account the recommendations of distinguished Nigerians on a political solution to Nnamdi Kanu’s case, which entails urging the Attorney General of the Federation to withdraw all charges against Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and grant him unconditional release.
Signed
Comrade Igboayaka O Igboayaka
National President
Comrade Ifeanyichukwu Nweke
Secretary General
29th, January, 2025
