Soun vs Chief Imam: CAN, RCCG asked to caution Oyo monarch

Tamarauemi Ebimini

A group of Muslim professionals under the aegis of ‘No Dull Moment in Islam (NDMI)’, on Friday called on the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), and the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) to caution the Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Ghandi Olaoye, over alleged plot to ignite religious violence in the ancient town.

The group was reacting to alleged threats by the Monarch to remove the Grand Chief Imam of Ogbomosoland, Sheikh Teliat Yunus Ayilara for alleged violation of his oath of office.

The monarch reportedly issued a query issued to the Imam for embarking of holy pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia without informing him.

A statement released on Friday by the group and signed by Coordinator and the Secretary of the Group, Professor Abdurazaq Kilani, and Barrister Mojeed Abolore Oloyede, respectively, described the order as an insult on the Muslim ummah in Oyo State.

The group in the statement requested the monarch to withdraw the query and the threat to review the appointment of the Chief Imam, immediately, adding that the provocative shenanigans against the Imam must stop forthwith.

“Imam Yunus Ayilara was accused of embarking on his journey to the holy land and appointing a surrogate to act as the Chief Imam Agba Ogbomosoland without informing the palace as prescribed by the said Oath of Office.

“In the query, the Imam was ordered by the Monarch to “immediately return” to Ogbomoso from his journey to rectify the purported violations. This is not only an insult to the Chief Imam of Ogbomosoland, but the entire Muslim Ummah of Ogbomosoland.

“The provocative shenanigans being perpetrated against the interest of Ogbomoso Muslim Ummah must expire forthwith. Oba Ghandi must stop the harassment of the Grand Chief Imam of Ogbomosoland, while we request that he withdraw immediately the threat to review the appointment of the Imam.

“We call on the Christian Association of Nigeria and the leadership of The Redeemed Christian Church of God where Oba Ghandi Olaoye was ordained as a pastor to call the monarch to order and tell him to stop his overbearing incursion into the affairs of Muslims in Ogbomosoland.”

NDMI insisted that an oath of office sworn to by an Imam before a Muslim Oba, late Oba Jimoh Oyewumi, is being manipulated during the reign of a christian monarch for “mischievous reasons.”

The group challenged the Oba to point to any of the five items in the undertaken sign by the Imam during his installation that has been violated.