‘I remember when I was a soldier’- Sheikh Gumi recalls army days

Renowned Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has taken a trip down memory lane by sharing a throwback photograph from his days in the Nigerian Army in commemoration of this year’s Armed Forces Remembrance Day.

Gumi, who was enlisted into the Nigerian Army before leaving the military to pursue a religious career, said the occasion reminded him of the discipline, sacrifice and values he learnt as a soldier.

Sharing the old photograph on his social media page, the Kaduna-based cleric reflected on what he described as the true attributes of a genuine soldier, stressing that real service is often marked by sacrifice and silence rather than noise.

“They say empty cans make the loudest noise. Genuine soldiers sacrifice and remain silent. A true soldier stands for what is right even if the whole nation dislikes it,” Gumi wrote on Thursday.

According to him, a true soldier is one who is willing to give his life in defence of righteousness and contribute to building a peaceful nation for all citizens.

“We pray for our fallen heroes,” he added.

Before becoming one of Nigeria’s most prominent Islamic scholars, Sheikh Gumi underwent military training and served briefly in the Nigerian Army, an experience he has occasionally referenced when speaking on national security, discipline and conflict resolution.

In recent years, the cleric has attracted controversial attention , particularly over his repeated calls for the Federal Government to grant amnesty to repentant bandits, similar to the programme offered to Niger Delta militants, as a strategy to end insecurity in the country.