Ogbomoso Muslim Community loses independence as Oba Ghandi finally appoints Chief Imam

By KEMI KASUMU

Besides, the Soun has committed titularic inexactitude and monarchical hara-kiri by giving the title ‘Chief Imam’ to a man appointed only as palace Imam. There is no vacancy in the Chief imamate of Ogbomoso because there can be only one Chief Imam in a city of the caliber of Ogbomoso and that post has been filled by Chief Imam Talihat Yunus Olushina Ayilara – MURIC

Although the substantive Chief Imam, Sheikh Teliat Yunus Olusina Ayilara, is still alive and active, the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) senior pastor, who became the Soun of Ogbomoso Land via a controversial process months ago, Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye, has appointed another Chief Imam in the person of Sheikh Habeeb Ayilara for the ancient Ogbomoso Muslim Community.

To the Soun, the need for change of guard on the Mimbar of Ogbomoso Central Mosque, is because the Imam stood on the pulpit and rained abuses on him. It will be recalled that trouble started when the Chief Imam of Ogbomoso travelled to the just concluded Hajj to perform one of five most obligatory pillars of his Islamic religion and the Oba, who claims the throne of Soun belongs not to Muslims or Christians but Ogun worshippers, queried him for going for the all-important Holy Pilgrimage in Makkah and Madinah.

The DEFENDER reports that the new Chief Imam was turbaned on Friday August 30, 2024, at the Abata section of the palace after his appointment by the League of Imams and Alfas of Ogbomoso was approved by the Soun.

The turbaning ceremony was conducted in the presence of a large population of Muslims including the Parakoyi of Ogbomoso Land, Alhaji Sirajudeen Aleem, and Senator Fatai Buhari, who was represented by Alhaji Yekinni Woleola.

However, the Parakoyi noted that the new Chief Imam would be, for now, the Chief Imam of Aafin Ogbomoso, which implies that the embattled Chief of Ogbomoso Land, Sheikh Teliat Ayilara’s position is intact though commentators explained there is more to it than meet the eye.

Alhaji Aleem said since the issue of Alhaji Teliat Ayilara is in court, they would not act contrary to the court.

“He will be the Imam of the palace, the Imam of the Oba, we are not acting in contempt of the court because the matter is in court, it is the court that will tell us if Imam Teliat is Imam Ogbomoso or not. We are not removing him as Chief Imam of Ogbomoso, he is still there because the matter is in court, but the Imam of the Soun is the one we are turnbaning today. Listen to me, he is Imam of the palace, of all the Soun Royal Houses,” the Parakoyi declared.

In his remarks, the Soun of Ogbomoso, Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye, chastised those he said were trying to make the throne of the Soun a religious issue, pointing out that the “throne is that of the traditionalists. Soun Ogunlola who founded the throne was pure traditionalist, he worshiped Ogun deity. We Christians and Muslims are just intruding so to say, it originally belongs the traditional religion worshipers so we should encourage religious harmony. It is neither belongs to either of us Christians or Muslims. They are only lending us the throne, eni a fi oro lo to ni toun baje kinni ki oloro o wa se (meaning a person consulted over a matter that went up screaming, what should owner of the matter do)?

“Let me clear, the event of today is not the bus stop, we are yet to reach our destination, the bus only stopped to pick someone. I have refused to remove him (the incumbent Chief Imam Teliat) despite him taking me to court. But I told him you can’t take me to court and be leading me in prayer, we don’t go to court and become friends. You that took me to court you intention is to win, to win against the Oba, and you call yourself an indigene of this town. Such prayer can’t be answered, I believe. I am a pastor, if I take my member to court, will I lead in prayer and such member will say amen?”

This development has not gone down well with the majority of members across the Muslim Ummah of South West and Nigeria as some of them described the involvement of much occultism-inclined Obaship of Yoruba Land in the process of selection of Imam that is meant to lead Islamic faithful like that of Ogbomoso Land.

Those, who complained, also called on the Muslim Ummah of South West Nigeria (MUSWEN) and the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) to rise to the occasion and stop this trend in Yoruba Land before the Muslim Ummah is destroyed by some Obas who claim to be Christians but are, in reality, helpers for traditionalists against the Islamic faith.

The actions of Muslim leaders under the umbrella of League of Imams and Alfas and Sheikh Habeeb Ayilara, who allows themselves to be tools in this misdeeds towards Islamic affairs have been generally condemned by faithful, who expressed concern that the Muslim Ummah of Ogbomoso, by the attitude of some unconscious Muslims leading it, has lost its independence and freedom to be self-regulated without interference or tampering by any traditional institution, especially like one Oba Pastor Ghandi claim belong to Ogun worshippers, and government.

Among those that condemned it was the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC).

In a quick reaction via a statement titled, “Ogbomoso Palace Imam: It is divide et impera”, dated August 31, 2024 and copy of which was sent to The DEFENDER on Saturday, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) rejected the move describing the king’s action as a subterfuge to weaken Islam, a stratagem to enslave Muslims and a chicanery to exploit the Muslim population of Ogbomoso.

It urged the Muslims of Ogbomoso not to fall for the king’s divide and rule tactics.

MURIC, in the statement signed by its Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, said further that, “The Soun of Ogbomoso yesterday, Friday, 30th, August, 2024 appointed one Habib Ayilara as the ‘Chief Imam’ of his palace.

“This is a democracy, nobody can gag us except a competent court of law. Soun has had his way, Nigerian Muslims must have their say. Soun’s most recent action is a subterfuge to weaken Islam, a stratagem to enslave Muslims and a chicanery to exploit the Muslim population of Ogbomoso.

“Besides, the Soun has committed titularic inexactitude and monarchical hara-kiri by giving the title ‘Chief Imam’ to a man appointed only as palace Imam. There is no vacancy in the Chief imamate of Ogbomoso because there can be only one Chief Imam in a city of the caliber of Ogbomoso and that post has been filled by Chief Imam Talihat Yunus Olushina Ayilara.

“Therefore, the correct title of the new Imam is ‘Palace Imam’ Habib Ayilara. He is the king’s special Imam, not the Chief Imam. Afterall, many individual Muslims are known to have separate mosque buildings in their compounds and they appoint Islamic scholars as their personal Imams.

“We warn the new Palace Imam to be wary of the king’s tactics. He must not allow the palace pastor to mislead him. It is sheer divide et impera. However, out of meanness and pettiness, the king has made his private Imam the official Imam to be recognized by the Oyo State Government. While we know that Governor Seyi Makinde is more than a willing accomplice in this scheme to diminish the status of Islam in Ogbomoso, we patiently await the court’s judgement.

“Of course it is strange for a pastor king to have an Imam but since there is a mosque inside the palace, it is in order to have a Ratibi Imam (Imam of a branch mosque, not that of a Central Mosque). This is where the Soun has exhibited his zero knowledge of Islamic matters. Unfortunately those who know better and who should have counselled him, elected to dance to the gallery.

“Nonetheless, Nigerians must look at Soun’s action as an attempted coup (an unsuccessful one for that matter) against the Chief Imam of Ogbomoso. It also constitutes an incitement of Ogbomoso chiefs against their chief Imam. It is equally seen as an intimidation of holders of Islamic titles and the harassment of the League of Imams into submission. Interestingly, it tantamounts to contempt of court when properly interpreted particularly if the court’s pronouncement included maintenance of the status quo.

“We urge the Muslims of Ogbomoso not to fall for the king’s divide and rule tactics. Soun’s subterfuge is designed to weaken Islam and to enslave and exploit the Muslim population. We know where Pastor Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye, the Soun of Ogbomoso, is going. The body language is very clear. His aim is to make his palace Imam the Chief Imam of Ogbomoso.

“He has appointed a palace Imam but where is his palace bishop? Nigerians must ponder over this scandalous manipulation. His stratagem is to put his feet on the Chief Imam’s neck. He is mocking Islam, playing Muslims against one another. It is divide et impera.

“The destiny of the Muslims of Ogbomoso in particular and that of Yoruba Muslims is in their hands. They can only be free when they resist attempts being made to divide and debilitate them. But their method of resistance must be civilized, peaceful, lawful and constitutional.

“For us in MURIC, we will rather be free and totally committed Muslims in our graves than live as palace puppets, court jesters, sycophants, minions and slaves. We will not sell our full Islamic identity and religious freedom for a pot of porridge and crumbs from the palace table”. It ended with hashtags #Ogbomoso #PalaceImam