Islamic scholar Sheikh Ahmad Gumi has come to the defense of Sheikh Yahya Jingir, who recently faced backlash for advocating that the Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket model be maintained for the 2027 general elections. Gumi suggested that Jingir deserves leniency, explaining that the Plateau-based cleric lives in a region characterized by intense religious prejudice against Muslims.
Gumi shared these thoughts in a social media update on Monday, following public outcry over Jingir’s comments. Jingir had earlier commended President Bola Tinubu for the 2023 Muslim-Muslim ticket and encouraged his followers to back the same strategy for the next election cycle. Gumi noted that Jingir’s extreme stance is a reaction to the hostility he witnesses daily.
Addressing the broader issue, Gumi pointed out that religious manipulation is not limited to any single group, citing the recent controversy over a Muslim Vice-Chancellor in Plateau State. He argued that political rivals across the spectrum frequently leverage religious sentiment to attract voters. Ultimately, Gumi advised both political figures and religious leaders to refrain from involving religion in the country’s turbulent political landscape, emphasizing that such tactics are inappropriate for a nation with diverse faiths.
