Nigerian Muslim leader: "I only hate Christians who drink beer"

Well, I guess Gumi hates me, then. From Nigeria's Sun (thanks to Anthony) comes this revealing interview with Dr. Ahmed Gumi, a Muslim leader in that country.

Dr. Ahmed Gumi, the son to late radical Islamic scholar, Sheik Abubakar Gumi is very angry with Christians in Nigeria. Although he denies planning an attack on adherents of the Christian faith after Ramadan as being alleged by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), he holds them responsible for “the present mis-rule in the country and the attendant hardship.”...

“I prefer a Christian holding on to his Bible than the one that goes to the club to drink. I do not have any problem with a Christian that is a Christian but Christians who go to the beer parlour are those causing problems.”...

“...I am here to build Nigeria and not destroy it. And I am telling Muslims from Sokoto to Maiduguri that nobody should engage in riot, destruction of anything.”

But he contended that his preaching against violence does not mean that the Moslems do not have grudges against the state and CAN, stating however that “If I start counting now, we may not leave here before I go for ‘Tafsir’.”...

“CAN has been meddling in the politics of Nigeria; in the affairs of Nigeria. What I want to show the people is that we Muslims are victims of violence; victims of terrorism; victims of marginalisation and victims of everything."

Yeah. Like this. And this. And this.

"Yes there are Muslim leaders that misled the country. Yes, there are Muslim leaders that embezzled wealth. But go to Zaria and see. Where is the wealth? Go to Maiduguri and see; where is the wealth. There is nothing with the Muslims; only beggars. So, how can the victim become the criminal? How can this victim become the accused? Where is justice?”

As he spoke, his countenance changed almost to the point of anger. As he launches the attack on CAN, Gumi debunked the claim that there were plans to attack key installations across the country:

“Where is justice? In fact, a soldier came to me showing me an order saying some Muslim Ulamah are going to attack military installations. How can a person who is poor and is barely able to get what he will eat do such a thing? You don’t build a nation on lies and deception. You don’t do that. You have to be upright and straightforward, then you will have peace everywhere. For Muslims to be painted in this light is a wrong thing and this is what I want to correct.

“If there is anything in Nigeria that is suffering now is the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN). They stage demonstrations at the slightest thing they oppose. They organize this and that. So what do they have to say? Why are they quiet now, why are they not making noise now, are all Nigerians not suffering?”...

“Every Muslim desires reformation. If a Muslim is drinking alcohol, won’t I tell him not to drink anymore? If a Muslim is stealing, won’t I tell him to stop? If a governor is stealing money, won’t I tell the governor to do what he is given the money for?...

“There is no revolution in the Islamic world because the Islamic message is for everybody. It is for the ruler; the follower; the security men; for the non-Muslim too. The Qu’ran is a universal message. It is a message from God addressed to all mankind. So, if you talk of a revolution, it means you are casting away some members of the society to whom the message is also targeted.

“It is, therefore, wrong to use the word revolution. But if you say reformation, it is okay because Islam reforms.”