Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, an Islamic cleric residing in Kaduna, has stated that Nigeria needs an experienced politician as its next president rather than a political beginner.
He claimed that Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Atiku Abubakar, the candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), had the necessary political and administrative expertise to lead the nation.
He answered inquiries about the upcoming general elections and the state of the country at his Kaduna home.
Speaking on Tinubu, the Islamic cleric claimed that the former governor of Lagos was a capable leader who might benefit Nigeria.
He however said the APC Muslim-Muslim ticket is a political gimmick to get votes.
“Let me use Hausa language, it is wayo and not a religious movement. Whether it will work or not, I don’t want to prophesise but there are a lot of hurdles. In fact, all political parties have hurdles. Muslim-Muslim ticket is going to be a laboratory test for others to emulate or not”.
On Atiku, Sheikh Gumi said there was nothing wrong with him contesting many times to win power.
“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.
Gumi noted that it took President Muhammadu Buhari over six months to appoint Ministers and government officials because he (Buhari) was an inexperienced politician.
“Nigeria is now in the 21st century. People are more educated now. What Nigeria needs now are people with competency. We should not be talking about the North because the North is no longer monolithic, we should not be talking about the Southwest because no particular person is in control, and we should not be talking about South East, look at how Senator Ifeanyi Uba was attacked by his own people.
“So let’s talk about Nigeria as one united people. Nobody controls anybody in the country. So let’s move forward. Look at America, nobody is talking about power rotation. Let’s develop a democracy that we can sustain,” he said.