Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, an Islamic cleric based in Kaduna, asserts that religious scholars possess the necessary moral foundation and theological insight to outperform career politicians in governance. In a conversation with the BBC Hausa Service, Gumi encouraged Nigerian Islamic leaders to transition from purely religious roles into active political participation.
He emphasized that Islamic doctrine contains no restrictions against scholars holding public office or engaging in the political process. According to Gumi, by applying their deep-seated fear of God and adherence to ethical teachings, these scholars could foster greater accountability and responsibility within the government. He argued that the current state of leadership should not be reserved solely for professional politicians, urging the Ulama to run for election and accept government appointments to help reshape society.
