Who’ll visit Boko Haram, bandits like Jonathan, Osinbajo visited militants - Gumi

Controversial Islamic cleric Ahmad Gumi has questioned the government's approach to tackling insurgency in northern Nigeria, contrasting it with past efforts to resolve militancy in the Niger Delta. Gumi pointed out that former President Goodluck Jonathan and former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo visited militants in the creeks to negotiate peace.

In a Facebook post, Gumi recalled how both leaders engaged with militants, resulting in programs designed to end the unrest. He questioned who would undertake similar visits to Boko Haram terrorists and bandits operating in northern Nigeria without facing public criticism. Gumi has consistently advocated for dialogue and negotiation as effective means to address the violence, drawing on his own experiences visiting bandit camps.

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The former President Jonathan visited delta militants in the creeks, so also the former vice president Osinbajo. They all came up with a program to tame the militants.

His interventions have drawn mixed reactions. Some accuse him of legitimizing armed groups responsible for kidnappings and killings, while others credit his engagements with facilitating the release of hostages. Gumi denies supporting terrorism, stating his aim is solely to end bloodshed through dialogue and rehabilitation.

The Niger Delta amnesty program, initiated under President Umaru Yar'Adua and continued by Jonathan, saw thousands of militants disarmed in exchange for training and reintegration, significantly reducing attacks on oil infrastructure. Jonathan's early engagement with ex-militant leader Tompolo in 2007 is seen as a precursor to this program. Osinbajo's 2017 outreach in the Niger Delta aimed to address the grievances of those involved in the conflict.

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Who is going to visit BH and Bandits to tame them without fools castigating them?