Popular Islamic cleric, Ahmad Gumi, has defended his visit to Ibadan last year, dismissing allegations that he was attempting to promote an Islamisation agenda in Oyo State.

Gumi made the clarification in a Facebook post on Tuesday, insisting that his trip to the South-West was not at the invitation of any Muslim organisation or individual in the region.

Gumi Explains Purpose of Visit

According to the cleric, he attended the event in Ibadan as a representative of the Coalition of Northern Muslim Ulama and not on behalf of any local group.

He questioned attempts to politicise his visit and maintained that every Nigerian has the right to travel freely across the country.

“I was in Ibadan not at the invitation of any South-West Muslim individual or group, but as a representative of the Coalition of Northern Muslim Ulama,” he stated.

“Can anybody stop me from going anywhere in Nigeria?”

Gumi added that the controversy surrounding his visit made him realise the extent to which, in his view, Islamophobia influences political discourse in parts of the South-West.

Comments Follow Kidnap Victim’s Video

His remarks came shortly after a video surfaced showing one of the victims abducted in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State disputing reports that the kidnappers demanded the introduction of Sharia law as a condition for their release.

The victim, Mrs. Rachael Alamu, principal of Community High School, Esiele, said the abductors were not demanding Sharia law or a N1 billion ransom.

According to her, the kidnappers were seeking the release of some of their associates currently in government custody.

MURIC Rejects Sharia Claims

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) also rejected reports linking the kidnappers to demands for Sharia law.

In a statement issued on Monday, the group described the allegation as false and argued that the claim was designed to portray Islam negatively.

Background to Ibadan Visit

Gumi visited Ibadan on November 19, 2025, as a guest speaker at the Southern Nigerian Ulama Summit held at the University of Ibadan.

During the visit, he also participated in a meeting attended by Muslim scholars from northern and southern Nigeria.

The visit generated public debate at the time, with some critics questioning its purpose, while supporters described it as a routine religious engagement aimed at fostering dialogue among Islamic scholars.