Former National Publicity Secretary and Spokesman of the Pan Niger Delta Forum PANDEF, His Highness, Anabs Sara-Igbe, has condemned the alleged statement of Islamic scholar Sheikh Ahmad Gumi against the Minister for FCT, Barr. Nyesom Ezenwo Wike.
Sara-Igbe, who is an elder statesman and National Coordinator of the South-South Leadership Forum, described the alleged outburst of Gumi over the visit of an Isreali Ambassador to Wike’s office in Abuja, as uncalled for and unfair to the people of the Niger Delta region and entire Southern Nigeria.
Recall that on Tuesday, October 3, 2023, the Israeli Ambassador to Nigeria, Michael Freeman, visited the FCT minister, days before the Hamas’ attack on Israel and the consequent and continued retaliation by the Jewish nation.
Gumi condemned Wike for receiving the Israeli Ambassador to Nigeria in his office and accused him of planning to collaborate with Israel over security issues in Abuja.
In a release made available to TNN, Sara-Igbe said the former governor of Rivers State did nothing wrong granting audience to the Isreali Ambassador, in his office in Abuja.
Sara-Igbe urged Gumi to, “realise that the Federal Capital, Abuja belongs to all Nigerian and that there is nothing wrong in the appointment of Chief Nyesom Wike or any other Nigerian as the Minister of FCDA irrespective where the person comes from.
“Nigeria is a circular state and not an Islamic Country, therefore, there is nothing wrong in the visit of the Isreali Ambassador to his office on a courtesy call.
He added that, “the people of the Niger Delta and indeed Southern Nigerians are not happy and comfortable with the utterances of the Islamic leader and his Cohorts from the Northern
“Nigeria Abuja the Capital does not belong to any religious or ethnic group in the Country. It is for both the Muslim, Christians and other religious sects and also for the six geo-political zones.
“The country is passing through a terrible, trying & turbulence times, therefore the sagastic, provocative and unguarded statements from the likes Sheikh Gumi is not welcomed.”
Sara-Igbe warned that, “any threat to the minister will be seen or interpreted to be a threat to the Niger Delta region and the whole of the Southern Nigeria.
“May I use this medium to call on the security agencies in the country to as matter of urgency caution the like of Sheikh Gumi not to ferment crises in the country, in the name of religious or ethnicity.”
