Ogbomoso Imamship Crisis: Muslim Leaders Condemn Attack On Soun, Say Soun Has Been Appointing Chief Imam Since 1818
Muslim Leaders in Ogbomoso, Oyo State, under the auspices of the Ogbomoso Committee on Islamic Affairs, have warned those speaking against the Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Afolabi Ghandi Olaoye, over the crisis on the Chief Imam of the town to desist, saying that “Since 1818 that the first Chief Imam was appointed, appointment and removal of Chief Imam of Ogbomoso has been at the discretion of the Soun.”
They disclosed that the Soun of Ogbomoso who appointed the first Chief Imam, Muhammed Nafiu from Abogunde Compound in Laka Area of the town in 1818 was not a Muslim, and that the tradition had remained since then.
The Muslim Leaders, led by the Aare Musulumi of Ogbomoso, Alhaji Abdulganiyu Atanda Owodunni, said like other Chief Imams before now, the embattled Chief Imam, Toliat Yunus Olusina, was appointed by the Soun of Ogbomoso.
The Aare Musulumi of Ogbomoso, who addressed the press in Ogbomoso on Saturday, in company of the Bashorun Musulumi of Ogbomoso, Alhaji Alimi Amole Shittu Sarumi; Asoju Musulumi, Alhaji Mikhail Muhammed Bello and Parakoyi Adini, Sirajudeen Alimi, said there had been controversies on the appointment of the Chief Imam before the incumbent Soun was enthroned.
He disclosed that the Imam Ayilara family had been kicking against the candidacy of Toliat Yunus Olushina, even, before his presentation and appointment by the immediate past Soun, Oba Oladunni Oyewumi.
The Aare Musulumi of Ogbomoso said; “Unknown to many, the Imam Ayilara family had been kicking against the candidacy of Toliat Yunus Olushina, even, before his presentation to the Kabiyesi but were allegedly prevented from seeing the Kabiyesi. A letter written to the Kabiyesi rejecting Toliat Yunus Olushina was never allowed to reach him. Despite his controversial turbaning, the Imam Ayilara family continued their agitation to His Imperial Majesty, Ajagungbade III who however joined his ancestors on the 12th December, 2021, exactly twenty–three days after Toliat Yunus Olusina was turbaned.
“Traditionally, at the demise of a Soun, the Soun-in-Council automatically assumes the administration of the town until a new Soun is installed. Unrelenting, the Imam Ayilara family took their agitation to the Soun – in – Council, which after hearing their claim conducted investigations into the matter to know the fact. The Soun–in–Council was led by the Areago of Ogbomosoland. Their findings confirmed that Imam Toliat Yunus Olusina has a doubtful relationship with the Ayilara family.
“The Soun-in-Council thereby wrote a letter to Imam Toliat Yunus Olusina to step aside and go back to the Imam Ayilara family to sort out the issue with the family. But on receiving the step-aside letter from the Soun-in-Council, Imam Toliat Yunus Olushina immediately proceeded to a High Court in Ogbomoso, rejecting the said letter. However, he later withdrew the court case he instituted against the Soun –ini–Council. But he defiantly stayed put as the imam. An uneasy calm now pervaded the atmosphere amongst the Ogbomoso Muslims.
“When a new Soun of Ogbomosoland was installed in September 2023, the Imam Ayilara family immediately took their complaint to the new Soun, who also instituted a fact-finding committee. He has the authority to do so since it is a mosque built and owned by his ancestors. He is eminently qualified to intervene as the traditional ruler of the ancient town. The committee that was set up in the palace was headed by High Chief Alhaji Kasali Oladipo, the Abese of Ogbomosoland. The report submitted by the Abese-led panel also confirmed the findings of the Soun –in–Council.
“At an elaborate meeting convened at the instance of His Imperial Majesty, Oba Afolabi Ghandi Olaoye, involving all the Muslim groups in Ogbomosoland, the Abese again delivered his report to the hearings of all and sundry. A decision was then taken by His Majesty that Imam Toliat Yunus Olushina in the light of the report of the Abese, should step aside and go back to the Imam Ayilara family to sort out the contentious issue with them, after which the Imam Ayilara family could re-present him to the palace if they eventually reached a compromise.
“To the surprise of all, instead of Imam Toliat Yunus to go back to the family, he headed to a High Court in Ogbomoso to challenge the decision of the palace based on the findings of the Abese panel of investigation. This step taken by Imam Toliat Yunus Olushina has polarized and has caused a deep division amongst the Ogbomoso Muslims. The social media is awash with various derogatory, abusive, insultive and defamatory remarks against the Soun, hurled by him and his cohorts, and we have witnessed reprehensible insubordination to the exalted throne of the Soun of Ogbomosoland.”
Going memory lane on the appointment and installation of the Chief Imam of Ogbomoso, the Ogbomoso Committee on Islamic Affairs said the first Chief Imam, Muhammed Nafiu, was appointed in 1818 by the Soun.
“The first officially appointed Chief Imam for the Ogbomoso Muslim Community was Imam Muhammed Nafiu from Abogunde Compound, Laka area, Ogbomoso. The then Soun who was not even a Muslim appointed him. Imam Muhammed Nafiu led the Muslim congregation between 1818 and 1870. His appointment was purely the discretion of the Soun. Since then, the Soun picked the Imam from any Muslim compound of his choice.
“After the demise of Imam Muhammed Nafiu, the then Soun picked a successor from Masifa, now known as Imam House, who led the Muslims between 1870 and 1892. After him, the then Soun went to Adunin compound, another area in Ogbomoso, to pick another successor called Imam Gbadamosi Adunin (1892 to 1899). After him, the then Soun went to Isale Ora, Bango Alawaye compound, to pick yet another Imam called Imam AbdulRahman Bango, who also led the Muslims between 1899 and 1903. After him, the Soun went to Abogunde compound to pick yet another successor called Imam Muhammed Akanmu (1903 to 1909). A new Soun, Oba Atanda Olayode the 1st, it was, who formally approved and built a new mosque for the Muslims, despite not being a Muslim, erected on the ground the Ogbomoso Central Mosque stands today, it was constructed with mud. After the demise of Imam Muhammed Akanmu in 1909, the then Soun went to Masifa to pick yet another Imam, the second time from that compound, known as Imam Sanusi Memudu (1909 to 1917). After Imam Sanusi Memudu, the then Soun used his discretion to pick a Mufashir to assist the new Chief Imam, selected from the Ayilara compound (1917 to 1919). His name was Imam Mahmud Ayinde Ayilara. All these are evidences that any reigning Soun has the prerogative to pick any competent Muslim to lead the Muslims during the Friday prayers.
“After the demise of Imam Mahmud Ayilara in 1919, the reigning Soun moved the Imamship to Imam Adunin house, a second time, conferring the title on Imam Salaudeen Areo (1919 to 1933). After his demise, the Soun again moved to Bango Alawaye compound, a second time also, to pick Imam Buhari Amao (1933 to 1936). After him, the Soun again moved to Abogunde compound, the third time, to pick Imam Mahruf Alao to lead the Muslims (1936 to 1976).
“By 1973, a new Soun had mounted the saddle. So, after the demise of Imam Mahruf Alao, the new Soun, His Imperial Majesty Alayeluwa Oba Dr. Jimoh Oladunni Oyewumi Ajagungbade III JP CON CFR also picked a Mufasir to the late Imam Mahruf Alao. After, Imam Ahmmad Hamzat Alawiye was appointed as the Chief Imam for the Ogbomoso Muslims between 1976 and 2002. After him, Soun Ajagungbade III moved to Imam House at Masifa, a third time, to pick Imam Yekeen Sanusi Asafa, who was there between 30th May, 2002 and the seventh of October, 2021.
“Soun Ajagungbade III then moved to Imam Ayilara house for the second time. Immediately after the 8th day firdau prayers for the late Chief Imam Sanusi, Oba Ajagungbade III directed the Pakoyi Adinni of Ogbomosoland, Alhaji Sirajudeen Alimi, to, along with the Ogbomoso Special Committee on Islamic Affairs and the League of Imams and Alfas of Ogbomoso, select a new Imam. His Majesty delegated this duty because of his declining health as a result of old age.
“Normally, when vacancy exists in the post of Chief Imam of Ogbomosoland, the Kabiyesi would write the next family to pick any candidate of its choice. But in this case old age had taken a deep toll on his health, hence, he delegated the screening of a new Imam to the three Duchies. After the screening, the committee went back to the palace to render its report to the Kabiyesi. The candidate presented was Toliat Yunus Olushina, which the Kabiyesi objected to and was pointing to another Islamic cleric, the late Mufasir Bashir Okunmebo, to take up the Imamship. However, due to some reasons, Toliat Yunus Olushina was eventually picked, and was installed and turbaned in the Ogbomoso Palace on Friday the 19th of November, 2021.”
The Muslim Leaders called on the public to discountenance false accusations being made against Oba Ghandi Olaoye, adding that “We shall not allow some extraneous forces to cause disaffection amongst us in Ogbomoso.”
They said; “In every family compound in Ogbomoso, there are Christians, Muslims and traditional worshippers enjoying strong bonds, and banded in harmonious relationship that has ensured we never had any division amongst us. We intermarry and celebrate every festival together as one united family. Any ruling house in Ogbomosoland whose turn it is to produce a candidate for the throne of Soun can present any candidate of their choice, be it a Christian, Muslim, or traditional worshiper. That is how we are made. But some people are attempting to destroy this foundation of harmony but this will fail.”