Gumi Stirs National Debate: ‘I Will Lead the Charge for Nnamdi Kanu’s Pardon — If He Shows Remorse’

Controversial Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has ignited a fresh national conversation after declaring that he would personally champion a presidential pardon and full amnesty for detained IPOB leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu — but only if Kanu publicly shows remorse and calls for peace.

Gumi made the assertion during an appearance on Channels Television on Tuesday, where he once again defended his longstanding belief that dialogue — not bullets — is the only sustainable path to ending Nigeria’s widespread insecurity.

‘I Advocate for Nigeria, Not for Criminals’ — Gumi Fires Back at Critics

Responding to criticism that he often appears sympathetic to violent non-state actors, Gumi pushed back strongly, insisting that his concerns revolve around Nigeria’s survival, not the protection of armed groups.

According to him, the country is currently grappling with an unprecedented wave of rural insurgency, with kidnappings now occurring “in every state,” including recent cases in Kwara and other parts of the federation.

> “Everybody is afraid,” he said. “Yet the government still wants a purely military solution — a method that has failed globally against guerrilla fighters.”

Gumi argued that no conventional army in the world, including those of the United States and Israel, has ever defeated guerrilla fighters through force alone.

> “Guerrilla warfare is not what our army is designed for; in fact, no army is designed for it,” he maintained. “So if people are genuinely ready to drop their arms, why must our approach always be purely kinetic?”

‘Some Armed Groups Want Peace — Government Is Not Listening’

The cleric claimed that several armed groups are already signalling readiness to surrender, but the government’s inflexible reliance on force continues to prolong the crisis.

He warned that Nigeria risks entrenching insecurity unless it embraces negotiation, reconciliation, and non-kinetic engagement alongside military operations.

Gumi Invokes History: ‘Ojukwu Was Forgiven, Militants Were Forgiven—Why Not Kanu?’

In making his case for dialogue, Gumi drew parallels with major moments in Nigeria’s history of conflict resolution.

He cited former President Shehu Shagari’s post–civil war pardon of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, and late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua’s landmark amnesty that ended the Niger Delta militancy.

> “Take Nnamdi Kanu,” Gumi said. “He was imprisoned for terrorism and inciting attacks on soldiers. But if he shows remorse and sincerely calls for peace, I would be at the forefront of advocating for his pardon and amnesty.”

He stressed that Nigeria must not shy away from political solutions, especially when rigid militarism has proven insufficient.

Gumi’s comments have already triggered intense reactions nationwide, reopening debates on:

Whether Kanu should be pardoned

Whether dialogue should be adopted in confronting insurgency

Whether Nigeria’s security posture needs urgent reform.
As insecurity continues to spread and fears rise across communities, the cleric insists that Nigeria stands at a crossroads — and only bold, unconventional decisions can pull it back from the brink.