Controversial Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has said, on Monday, that Nigeria needs an experienced politician to take over the reign of governance from the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), as his tenure ends in 2023.

Gumi noted that Nigerians should do away with ethnoreligious politics in the 21st century in order to build a united country.

Speaking to journalists in Kaduna, Gumi noted that the next President of the country should be one with experience, adding that there was nothing wrong with politicians contesting elections several times and seeking victory.

While placing the three leading presidential candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, the All Progressive Congress, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and Labour Party, Peter Obi, the fiery cleric said Nigeria did not need a novice as President, but an experienced politician to lead it in 2023 general election.

Assessing Atiku for the 2023 presidency, Gumi said that though the former Vice President might have contested several times, “Nigeria needs an experienced politician. We don’t need a novice to be President. The situation in Nigeria today needs an experienced politician to solve it.”

According to him, it is not proper for the APC presidential candidate to say it is his turn be the next Nigeria President.

This was as he maintained that the Muslim-Muslim ticket of the ruling party was unnecessary.

He said of Tinubu that “it is not proper for him to say it is his turn. There is no question to say it is my turn. Don’t say it is my turn because if people like you, they will vote for you.

“The Muslim-Muslim ticket is unnecessary. We all know, all these politicians are looking for votes. The Muslim-Muslim ticket is, let me use Hausa language, is wayo (deceit). It is not religion.

“Whether it will work or not, I don’t want to prophesise, but there are a lot hurdles. In fact, all the political parties have hurdles. Muslim-Muslim ticket is going to be a laboratory test for others to emulate or not.”

On Peter Obi, the Cleric said, “youths following him are divided like the adults. He needs to reach out to other segments of Nigerians. Relying on youths is not enough. He has to be all over the place, and not leaving politics to one region.”

Gumi also noted that Nigeria had gone beyond talking about North or South, adding that in America, “nobody is talking about power rotation.”

He said, “Nigeria is now in the 21st century, people are more educated now. What Nigeria needs now are people with competency.

“We should not be talking about North because North is no longer monolithic, we should not be talking about South-West because no particular person is in control, we should not be talking about South-East, look at how Senator Ifeanyi Uba was attacked by his own people.

“So, let’s talk about Nigeria as one united people. Nobody controls anybody in the country. So, let’s move forward. Look at America, nobody is talking about power rotation. Let’s develop democracy that we can sustain.”

While placing the three leading presidential candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, the All Progressive Congress, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and Labour Party, Peter Obi, the fiery cleric said Nigeria did not need a novice as President, but an experienced politician to lead it in 2023 general election.

“We should not be talking about North because North is no longer monolithic, we should not be talking about South-West because no particular person is in control, we should not be talking about South-East, look at how Senator Ifeanyi Uba was attacked by his own people.