Islamic scholar Sheikh Ahmad Gumi has sparked fresh political debate after drawing a comparison between Northern Nigeria and separatist groups operating in other parts of the country, arguing that they should take a cue from what he described as the “civilised” nature of the Arewa region.
The cleric made the remark in a post shared on his official Facebook page on Sunday, where he briefly praised the North while referencing the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC).
In the post, Gumi wrote: “Arewa is civilised, IPOB and OPC if they still exist should take a lesson.”
The cleric did not provide further explanation or clarify the specific issues he was referring to, leaving the statement open to public interpretation.
Gumi’s remarks surfaced shortly after comments by the Eze Ndigbo of Kano State, Boniface Ndukwe, who highlighted what he described as the deep-rooted relationship between the Igbo community and the people of Kano.
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Speaking in a video circulating online, Ndukwe said many Igbos no longer see themselves as visitors in Kano but as integral members of the state’s social and economic landscape.
According to him, the community has built thriving businesses over the years, with investments running into trillions of naira.
He noted that the contributions of Igbo entrepreneurs have become an important part of Kano’s economy, stressing that many members of the community now proudly identify themselves as “Igbos of Kano State” rather than simply Igbos living in Kano.
Although Gumi did not directly reference Ndukwe’s statement, the timing of his Facebook post has generated discussion on social media, with many linking the two developments.