IBADAN, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA) – Nigerians have lashed out at Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of Labour Party, and his running mate, Dr. Datti Baba-Ahmed, after they visited renowned Islamic cleric, Ahmad Abubakar Gumi at his residence in Kaduna State.
Peter Obi shared photos from the visit on his Twitter handle on Monday, 17 October, 2022, alongside a caption: “Dr Datti Baba-Ahmed and I stopped by for a courtesy call on Sheikh Gumi at his official residence in Kaduna. -PO”
The visitation came as a shock to some Nigerians especially supporters of other major presidential candidates and his own supporters.
A tweep, @emmaikumeh said: “😂😂😂😂 this same Gumi your supporters have called all sorts of names. It’s well. I wish you all the best sir. We will save pictures.”
He also shared screenshots of an Obidient @Afam Deluxo, tagging Sheikh Gumi a major shareholder in Boko Haram Plc.
@AfamDeluxo defended himself by quoting Peter Obi: “We will dialogue with all aggrieved citizens & come to a peaceful resolution” – Peter Obi”
@emmaikumeh captioned it “😂 okay ooh 😂 “
Another tweep, Otunba said: “You goofed on this.”
@urchilla01, while explaining the essence of the visit, said: “No, it is not bad optics in any way. PO is not president yet, and does not have whatever information the Nigerian govt has. As of today, Sheikh Gumi is a free citizen, regardless of what our thoughts are about him. It is in PO’s interest to listen to him before he becomes president. When he does become president, & is then presented with contradicting reports by the intelligence agencies, then we can trust him to move differently & decisively 🖊”
The tweep said this in reaction to a Nigerian who stated that the visit is bad optics.
“You know this visit is bad optics,” the Netizen had said.
@mavisikpeme, while also reacting, tweeted: “PDP and APC boys , your lunch and dinner is served as Peter obi and Datti Baba the real unifiers paid a courtesy visit to sheik Gumi.
“A true pan Nigeria leader does not segregate as one voice is as important as the others!!”
Mindset shared his own view on the visit and said: “Mindset what do you have to say about Peter Obi visiting Gumi?
“Me: Politics is a game of interest!”
@Mrodanz on his part, said: “Sheikh Gumi has joined General Eneche, Doyin Okupe, TY Danjuma, IBB and the others who want to rescue Nigeria from the corrupt old order created by PDP and APC. Nigeria shall be great”
@Qdpaper dubbed the former Anambra governor a “political begger” for visiting Gumi who has been associated with terrorists.
“Peter Obi the political begger went to beg Bandit spokesman Gumi in Kaduna for Support.
“Well done Youth president. 😄👏🏼👏🏼”