Soun vs Chief Imam: ‘We’re handing off’ – MURIC
Yinka ADETUNJI
Professor Ishaq Akintola, Executive Director of Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), a Muslim right group has made a u-turn on its position regarding the issue of alleged plan of the Soun of Ogbomoso Oba Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye and the Soun-in-Council to remove the Chief Imam of the town Alhaji Taliat Yunus Oluwasina Ayilara.
Recall Monday the Islamic group in a press statement signed by Professor Akintola issued a stern warning to the Soun against such move saying it could result in dire consequences.
“We like to remind the Soun that first and foremost, as a Christian, he cannot pick an Imam for Muslims. Apart from being a Christian, kings have no business in the choice of Imams. It is the prerogative of Islamic scholars in that city. The king’s duty is to cooperate with any Imam chosen by the Muslims of any city in maintaining peace and tranquility. Therefore, it is wrong for the Soun to poke his nose into the affairs of Muslims.
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“Besides, the king will be acting ultra vires if he attempts to replace the Chief Imam. Nothing in the laws of Oyo State, or any state in the South West for that matter, empowers the Oba to remove or replace an Imam. Any such attempt will be illegal, illegitimate, unlawful and unconstitutional. The days of l’etat cest moi a la Louis XIV are over. We are in a democracy, Yoruba Muslims will not pander to royal excesses.
“We hereby repeat inter alia our press statement of 8th January, 2024 captioned ‘Stop Influence of Kings on Yoruba Imams – MURIC’.
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However, in a telephone interview Tuesday, by an Islamic scholar Alhaji Zubair Muhammed Tawfiq a.k.a. Lobanika, and made available to ogbomosoinsightonline.com, Prof Akintola asserted MURIC is handing off the matter after being informed of the true state of things.
“After our release yesterday, more than 11 persons have called from Ogbomoso making clarifications on the mttler that he (Chief Imam) is not from Ogbomoso.
“His foundation is faulty, it is on that basis we are handing off. The law of Islam does not stipulate an indigene must be Chief Imam but we are not in support of falsehood. We can’t support lie. MURIC is handing off.”
