Controversial Islamic cleric Ahmad Gumi has urged Nigerians to engage in peaceful protests as a means of conveying their grievances to the government, emphasising that protests are a crucial tool for driving change.

"Politicians are very stubborn, it is mass protests that only disturb them," he said.

Addressing concerns over comparisons with past protests in countries like Sudan, Lebanon, and Liberia, Gumi highlighted Nigeria's unique diversity. 

"In Sudan and Liberia, the conflicts were like family feuds, which are very dangerous. But Nigeria is different, with diverse ethnicities, religions, cultures, tribes, and sects," he explained, noting internal tensions even within religious sects like the Izala in Nigeria.

Gumi expressed optimism that peaceful protests would convey the public's demand for good governance and development. 

"Protest is the only language the government understands," he asserted, urging authorities to heed the calls for reform and improvement.

Highlighting past political actions, Sheik Gumi criticised the government's response to protests, contrasting it with previous protests led by current officials. 

"In 2015, Muhammadu Buhari and other top All Progressives Congress (APC) officials came out to protest that the previous government had spoiled Nigeria. Then, protest was legal but now it's illegal," he pointed out, lamenting the inconsistency in how protests are viewed and treated.

"God willing, the protest will proceed peacefully, and the government must understand and respond positively to the language of protest," Gumi concluded, calling for constructive dialogue and meaningful reforms for the benefit of all Nigerians.

Gumi's comments coincide with growing discontent in northern Nigeria, where some people are planning protests to voice their concerns about the economic situation, including rising inflation and poverty, under President Bola Tinubu's administration. 

Sahara Reporters