Kaduna-based Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has said Nigeria does not need a novice but an experienced patriot as its next President.
He said the presidential candidates of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, have the requisite political and administrative experience to lead the country.
Gumi weighed the three major 2023 presidential candidates – Tinubu of the APC, Atiku of the PDP and Mr. Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP) – while addressing reporters on the forthcoming general elections and the state of the nation yesterday at his Kaduna home.
Speaking on Asiwaju Tinubu, the Islamic cleric described the former Lagos State governor as a good administrator who will make a great President.
But the cleric said the APC Muslim-Muslim ticket is a political gimmick to get votes.
“Let me use Hausa language. It is wayo (strategy) and not a not a religious move. Whether it will work or not, I don’t want to prophesise.
“But there are a lot of hurdles. In fact, all the political parties have hurdles. The Muslim-Muslim ticket is going to be a laboratory test for others to emulate or not.”
Commenting on Atiku, Sheikh Gumi said there was nothing wrong for politicians to contest elections several times until they achieve victory.
“Nigeria needs an experienced politician. We don’t need a novice to be President. The situation in Nigeria today needs an experienced politician to solve it,” he said.
The Islamic cleric also spoke on Peter Obi, saying: “Youths following him are divided, like the adults. He needs to reach out to other segments of Nigerians. Relying on youths is not enough. He has to be all over the place, and not leaving politics to one region.”
He advised Nigerians to do away with ethno-religious politics and unite for the progress of the country.