‘He’s a strategist’ | ‘It’s bad optics’ — mixed reactions trail Obi’s visit to Gumi

Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), is currently in the news after he paid a courtesy visit to Ahmad Gumi, the Islamic cleric infamous for championing the cause of amnesty for bandits.

Obi and Datti Baba-Ahmed, his running mate, visited the cleric at his residence in Kaduna state on Monday.

The duo were in the state to attend an interactive session organised by the Arewa joint committee for presidential candidates.

Obi, who shared pictures from his visit to Gumi on Twitter, has come under fire from those who felt disappointed by the move.

Below are some reactions from Twitter:

Peter Obi says he’s f!ghting for a new Nigeria, but he keeps building alliances with the enem!es. Sheikh Gumi has many times defended bandits on live TV, he’s a well-known terrorist sympathizer & Nigerians criticize the govt for staying silent. Anyone defending this now is s!ck.

— Daniel Regha (@DanielRegha) October 17, 2022

Anyone who associates Peter Obi again with IPOB will be visited by Amadioha, IPOB does not in any way or form associate with terrorists or known Jihadist.

Can we now agree that Peter Obi lied about not being desperate to become president, why Sheikh Gumi?

— Kitikpa ❤️‍🔥 (@Ulaga_Igwe) October 17, 2022

How will Obidients who were tweeting the pictures of Gumi and Shettima together weeks ago feel now?

Peter Obi keeps embarrassing his followers until he ultimately disgrace them by coming a distant third next year.

— The Cerebral (@OshioQuake) October 17, 2022

You know this visit is bad optics https://t.co/V89cZDZyMB

— Lotus Flower (@Lotus_flower122) October 17, 2022

There’s no way you can defend Peter Obi visiting Gumi. It’s very annoying and sad.

— Buchi Laba (@Buchi_Laba) October 17, 2022

PO abeg 😩😩Sheikh gumi is a known ethnic bigot. No be everywhere we go stop by

— NK£M #PeterObi2023 (@Nkemchor_) October 17, 2022

You really can’t spin this visit to Sheik Gumi. As an Obidient, keep quiet if you are not sure what to say. Learn to pick your battles. Supporting someone doesn’t mean you defend everything. You’ll score own goal. It is politics

“Unifier” no mean say make you add terrorist.

— Sir Dickson (@Wizarab10) October 17, 2022

However, there are those who termed the visit as a strategic political move.

They argued that Obi is a presidential candidate who wants to unify Nigeria and as such, should not segregate anyone.

Here are some of those opinions from Twitter: 

Peter Obi Is a strategic Politician.

Met with Sheikh Gumi before meeting with the Arewa Forum, to dowse tensions.

Pictures of him and Gumi will filter down to the remote areas in the North.

The rumour of him being a sectional Leader will slowly evaporate.

My President pic.twitter.com/WANFG2BH8o

— Samson Famous (@SamsonFamous4) October 17, 2022

As a Northerner and a big fan of Atiku Abubakar for the 2023 election , Peter Obi’s visit to Sheik Gumi is symbolic and going to endear many Northerners towards him. He’s doing the right thing by trying to build bridges which is something he needs to stand a chance.

— Sarki. (@Waspapping_) October 17, 2022

PO – A leader should be accountable to his people. He should listen to the agitated and find resolution (paraphrased).
Reason why you can’t complain about Peter Obi’s visit to Gumi.
We need to overcome ethnic & religious bigotry in our politics.This visit doesnt mean Gumi has to

— Judith Akatugba (@judithakatugba) October 17, 2022

If Gumi is a terrorist then the government should arrest him, but as long as there is no case against him, Peter Obi is free to meet him and lobby for votes due to his influence on the People of Kaduna and #Arewa at large. that is what Politics is all about. El Rufai Datti. pic.twitter.com/iuCbq6XWi1

— ALHAJI YUSUF (@Yusuf_Mazaje1) October 17, 2022

Peter Obi did the right thing by paying courtesy visit to Gumi and it was a very smart move.

Getting on that Presidential hot seat is the most important thing for us right now.🙏🏾

— Ibukun Aluko (@IbkSports) October 17, 2022

Peter Obi is not an activist, he’s not a religionists, he’s not a tribalist, he’s a politician. He’s a politician and he must carry everybody along if he wants to be president of Nigeria. If Gumi is a terrorist it is left for the government to handle that and not an issue for

— Shehu Gazali Sadiq (@Shehusky) October 17, 2022

Peter Obi visited Sheikh Gumi. Some
are happy. Some are against it. To me. That’s politics. If i’m in Obi’s shoes I’ll also visit everyone to gain their support. It’s you that don’t have sense by making enemies out of your friends because of politicians.

— IFÁ FUNSHO (@funshographix) October 17, 2022