“Why Chief Imam of Ibadan, others are wrong over self-made Ramadan fasting commencement date”

By NASRUDEEN ABBAS

A group, Concerned Indigenous Yoruba Muslims, has dismissed a viral report claiming that the Chief Imam of Ibadanland and the League of Imams in Yorubaland rejected the authority of the Sultan of Sokoto in determining the commencement of Ramadan in the South-West.

The report, which circulated on social media ahead of Ramadan 1447AH, alleged that the Chief Imam of Ibadan declared that Yoruba Muslims were not bound by the authority of the Sultan of Sokoto regarding the announcement of the fasting period. It further claimed that religious leaders in the region had aligned with indigenous structures, distancing themselves from the traditional role of the Sultan in announcing the sighting of the moon.

However, in a statement issued on Saturday, February 21, 2026 — the fourth day of Ramadan — and signed by public affairs analyst Nasrudeen Abbas on behalf of the group, the Concerned Indigenous Yoruba Muslims described the report as fabricated and misleading.

The group maintained that the statement attributed to the Chief Imam of Ibadan, said to be over 90 years old, could not have emanated from him and was a deliberate attempt to create division within the Muslim community.

They reaffirmed that Islam in Nigeria operates under established structures, particularly the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), led by the Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, who serves as President-General.

According to the group, the leadership structure of the NSCIA also includes the President of the Muslim Ummah of South West Nigeria (MUSWEN) as Deputy President-General (South), the Shehu of Borno as Deputy President-General (North), and other national officers.

They argued that any attempt by individuals or groups to distance themselves from this structure threatens the unity of the Muslim Ummah in Nigeria and contradicts Islamic principles that emphasize cohesion.

The statement also faulted the claim that the Sultan’s position is merely a traditional title limited to Sokoto State, stressing that the Sultan’s authority in religious matters is rooted in Islamic scholarship and the historical institution of the caliphate.

To buttress their argument, the group referenced the role of the Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, noting that emirs in Northern Nigeria often lead prayers and perform other religious duties, unlike most traditional rulers in Yoruba land whose roles are largely cultural.

They also cited the late President-General of the League of Imams and Alfas in the South West, Sheikh Kazeem Yayi Akorede, recalling an account that he later accepted the Sultan’s authority in matters concerning moon sighting and Ramadan announcements after gaining further clarification on the nature of the office.

The group further described as “unethical” portions of the viral report which allegedly stated that Yoruba Muslims were not religiously bound to submit to the authority of the Sultan and suggested that religious leadership should go beyond ceremonial duties.

According to them, such claims were politically motivated and aimed at promoting division under the guise of religious autonomy.

They urged those behind the publication to desist from actions capable of undermining unity among Muslims across the country and cautioned against politicising religious matters.

The group reiterated that the unity of the Muslim Ummah in Nigeria remains paramount and should not be compromised by what it described as sectarian or politically engineered narratives.

“Islam as a universal religion is not individual but has its structure by which it is practiced under a constituted authority epitomised by Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA). In Nigeria, Sultan of Sokoto currently being His Eminence Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, CFR, mni, is the President General; President of the Muslim Ummah of South West Nigeria (MUSWEN) currently being Alhaji Rasaki Oladejo, FCA is Deputy President General (South) of the NSCIA; Shehu of Borno Emirate currently being His Royal Highness Alhaji Dr Abubakar ibn Umar Garba Abba Kiyari el-Kanemi is the Deputy President General (North) NSCIA; Professor Is-haq Oloyede, Secretary General of the NSCIA and Professor Salisu Shehu is the Deputy Secretary General NSCIA. This is the structure of the leadership of Muslim Ummah of Nigeria and Yoruba Land is not exempted.”

For any one individual or group of persons to exclude themselves from the establishment in a way that threatens not only the unity of the Ummah as enshrined in the Holy Qur’an but also endangers the well being of national development, the Concerned Indigenous Yoruba Muslims said, it has no basis not even in the Yoruba culture they try to inculcate into Islam they never accepted but as a religion of Fulani.

“Also, to unequivocally state that the Sultan is a traditional leadership title that of Sokoto State and so cannot holds religious dominion over the Yoruba region is a mistake. This in the sense that because Yoruba traditional rulership is seen as idol worshipping title and as such that such cannot lead religious affairs. This is the reason in Yoruba Land, the Obas don’t head religion except in certain places like Ogun State where the late Awujale of Ijebu Land, late Oba Dr. Sikiru Kayode Adetona, was President General of the Ogun State Muslim Council (OMC) and after his demise, the Oluwu of Owu Kingdom, Abeokuta, has now replaced him.

“This, I once read by a journalist from Ondo State who said he sometime in 2004 visited our late respected spiritual father, Sheikh Kazeem Yayi Akorede, and asked him why as President-General of the League of Imams and Alfas, South West, Edo and Delta he used to reject sultan of Sokoto as Leader of Muslims in Nigeria and that he gave an honest reply saying “Because Sultan is an Oba and an Oba cannot lead religious affairs.” He said he explained to Baba that the vast in Islamic knowledge and practice is made Emir (Amir) anywhere in Northern Nigeria or Sultan of Sokoto Caliphate. That is why Sultan, occasionally, can lead prayers in the mosque or perform Islamic rites. He said Sheikh Akorede then said to him that he didn’t know until that visit and promised never to reject the Sultan’s leadership especially with regard to announcement of new moon sighting for commencement and termination of Ramadan fasting. And, he said, till his last breathe on earth, Baba Akorede stood by announcement by the Sultan.

“For you to understand more, you can see that the current Emir of Kano, His Royal Highness Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi II, aside being a banker and former Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), has been delivering Friday sermon in the Central Mosque in Kano City. He also performs wedding fatia sometimes. But this is not the case in Yoruba Land where Obas as seen as Oosa (idols) with the exception of some Yoruba Obas now formed into a group headed by the Oluwo of Iwo, His Imperial Majesty Emperor AbdulRasheed Adewale Akanbi, assisted by the Akure of Ikire Ile, His Royal Majesty Oba AbdulAzeez Adebamiji among others,” said the Concerned Indigenous Yoruba Muslims.

The statement explained further that, “It is not funny but unethical that the statement credited to the Chief Imam of Ibadan said “We, as Yoruba Muslims, are not religiously bound to submit to the authority of the Sultan” and that “Religious leadership should encompass more than ceremonial duties like announcing the moon sighting. It should include moral integrity, the courage to stand against injustice, and the advocacy for victims, irrespective of their ethnic background.” At this point, those who claimed to be “We the Yoruba Muslims” are exposed to only be hiding under that manner to promote secessionist course of Yoruba Nation only looking for way to achieve their mission by breaking the only challenge they have that is the unbreakable rope of Allah that binds all Muslims of Nigeria, North and South, together. It is the command of Allah in the Qur’an to hold on to the role of their Lord and not be disunited.”

It said, “As Concerned Indigenous Yoruba Muslims, we are happy to come by a contribution somewhere on a WhatsApp group where the unnamed contributor in his or her reply to the same sectarian statement credited to the Chief Imam of Ibadan sounding strong warning for authors of such system to eschew allow political gameplay push them to dabble into matters that do not concern them.

“The comment said, “I don’t think there is need for someone to venture into this issue, more so as a Christian for good reasons below:

“1. No matter what someone may insinuate on the matter, we are one unique Ummah. You may just waste your time and energy in so doing.

“2. I don’t think any of us will ever venture into any matter that exclusively concerns the Christian faith. Because it is even against the Islamic Jurisprudence to intrude into what does not concerns you.

“Please refrain from such politically engineered play that derailed Nigeria into the precious situation we are now,” it said.”