Image caption: Some of the Muslim leaders at the event
False claims made against Soun, the Oba never acted out of line – Muslim leaders
Abdulrasak BELLO
Islamic leaders in Ogbomoso under the aegis of the Special Committee on Islamic Affairs and League of Imams and Alfas, have come out bodly in stout support of the monarch of the town, the Soun, Oba Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye Orumogege III, over the Chief Imamship debacle in the community.
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Presenting a new twist and insight into the imbroglio during a press conference in Ogbomoso, Saturday, the Islamic bodies declared as false, various claims and accusations against the Soun, emphasizing the monarch had not deviated from the norms guiding and guarding Islam in the town.
They therefore described the virulent attacks on the revered traditional ruler as unwarranted positing many dabbled into it without proper understanding of the fundamentals and dynamics of the issue.
They underlined that the Soun owns the Ogbomoso Central Mosque at Oja’gbo, is its custodian and has historically been responsible for appointing and removing Chief Imams.
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Making comparison with the Kabba in Mecca they noted is owned by the Saudi Arabia Royal Family they pointed out the Ogbomoso Central Mosque belongs solely to the Soun Ruling House, even as histories of the evolution of the worship centre and succession trajectory of past Chief Imams were narrated.
“We, the Muslim leaders, who have a great stake in the affairs of the Muslim community in Ogbomoso, have taken the pain to explain how the Ogbomoso Central Mosque of Oja’gbo came into being and how it has been administered by the various Souns on the throne at every point in time.
”Our own peculiarity here in Ogbomoso is that the Ogbomoso Central Mosque is an ancestral heritage of the Soun Dynasty as the Kaaba – the Haram in Makkah and the Masjid Anabawy in Medina are the exclusive property of the Saudi Arabia Royal Family. And so the sole authority in the appointment of Chief Imam of Ogbomosoland that will lead the Muslim Ummah is that of the Soun.”
They further asserted that the query given the Chief Imam of Ogbomoso Sheikh Teliat Yinusa Olusina Ayilara (though they deliberately did not include Ayilara in his name) by the Soun was not out of place that he signed an undertaking to that effect when he was installed, which stipulates he would always inform the monarch before absenting himself from his role and that if he violated the requirement he could be queried and removed.
The groups, to authenticate this claim, unveiled the oath with the signature of the Chief Imam unambiguously appended on it.
The castigation of the Soun by various groups and individuals they took serious exception to, explaining the Oba did no wrong and did not deserve such media trial.
“We say emphatically that His Imperial Majesty, Oba Afolabi Ghandi Olaoye Orumogege III, the Soun of Ogbomosoland, is innocent of all the allegations levelled against him, they are merely defaming him and making profanations against him…We are hereby calling on the whole world to discountenance all these false accusations against His Imperial Majesty, the Soun of Ogbomosoland Oba Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye Orumogege III.”
They remarked Ogbomoso is a peculiar, peaceful city immune to religious disharmony in whatever guise and that it has always been traditionally led by member of any religious leaning warning that those orchestrating religion crisis would fail.
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“We shall not allow some extraneous forces to cause disaffection amongst us in Ogbomoso. 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.”
They consequently charged on cross-checking of facts before publishing untrue claims.
“Please, let everyone always exercise due diligence of investigation before rushing to the press to spew defamatory statements against the person of His Imperial Majesty, Oba Afolabi Ghandi Olaoye Orumogege III, the Soun of Ogbomosoland.”
A narrative of how the central mosque was built and rebuilt was also included. This is as the origin of the imbroglio was dwelt on.
Responding to a question a spokesman maintained the Chief Imam shot himself in the foot when he signed the oath while noting further he should have returned to the Ayilara family which disclaimed him to forge amicable resolution instead of instituting court actions and inciting disaffection in the community.
Read the address, titled, “Imamship imbroglio in Ogbomosoland: Need to avoid instigating violence and insurbodination against constituted authorities,” in detail below:
(A special address by the Ogbomoso Committee on Islamic Affairs led by the Aare Musulumi of Ogbomosoland, Aare Alhaji Abdulganiyu Atanda Owodunni, today, June 29, 2024. Some other members of the Committee are the Bashorun Musulumi of Ogbomosoland, Bashorun Alhaji Alimi Amole Shittu Sarumi, Asoju Musulumi of Ogbomosoland, Asoju Alhaji Mikhail Muhammed Bello and the Parakoyi Adini of Ogbomosoland, Pakoyi Sirajudeen Alimi).
Introduction:-
I thank and appreciate the prompt response to the invitation extended to you gentlemen of the press despite the short notice. It shall continue to be well with you all Amen.
This Press Conference is to address the raging issue of imbroglio in the Muslim community in Ogbomoso, and the willful insubordination against constituted authorities by certain individuals, which have brought the community to near anarchy.
Brief history of the authority of the Soun of Ogbomosoland on Islamic administration, the Central Mosque and its leadership
The Muslim population of Ogbomosoland experienced exponential growth during the Islamic Jihad of 1804 led by Uthman Dan Fodio, although there existed a Muslim population since the early sixteenth century in the town through the influence of Muslims of the Borno Empire.
The growing population of Muslims then demanded a central congregational worship centre, otherwise known as Jumat Mosque. Although the prevailing situation in Ogbomoso at the time in view of the predominance of traditionalists presented a challenge.
This need came to the attention of the ruler of Ogbomoso and so, His Highness provided a space for the congregational worship centre on Fridays commonly known as Friday Prayers.
The space provided by the then Soun was within the expansive palace compound and it’s where the Central Mosque is built today. For emphasis sake, the present Ogbomsoo Central Mosque at Oja’gbo was excised out of the palace premises.
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 picks 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 secnd 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 Ajagugbade 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. 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 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 is 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 an High Court in Ogbomoso rejecting the said letter. However, he later withdrew the court case he instituted against the Soun – in – Council. But he defiantly stayed put as the imam. An uneasy calm now pervaded the atmosphere amongst the Ogbomoso Muslims. 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 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 for the Imam Toliat Yunus to go back to the family, he headed to an 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.
We say emphatically that His Imperial Majesty, Oba Afolabi Ghandi Olaoye Orumogege III, the Soun of Ogbomosoland, is innocent of all the allegations levelled against him, they are merely defaming him and making profanations against him.
We are hereby calling on the whole world to discountenance all these false accusations against His Imperial Majesty, the Soun of Ogbomosoland Oba Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye Orumogege III. We shall not allow some extraneous forces to cause disaffection amongst us in Ogbomoso. 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.
Finally, we, the Muslim leaders, who have a great stake in the affairs of the Muslim community in Ogbomoso, have taken the pain to explain how the Ogbomoso Central Mosque of Oja’gbo came into being and how it has been administered by the various Souns on the throne at every point in time. Our own peculiarity here in Ogbomoso is that the Ogbomoso Central Mosque is an ancestral heritage of the Soun Dynasty as the Kaaba – the Haram in Makkah and the Masjid Anabawy in Medina are the exclusive property of the Saudi Arabia Royal Family. And so the sole authority in the appointment of Chief Imam of Ogbomosoland that will lead the Muslim Ummah is that of the Soun.
In 1946, a Muslim group, formed with the consent of the then reigning Soun, Oba Lawani Oke Olanipekun Olaoye Orumogege II (1945 to 1952) known as Egbe Kila volunteered themselves and requested the Kabiyesi to allow them source for funds to rebuild the Ogbomoso Central Mosque, which as stated was first built with mud in 1909 during the reign of Oba Olayode the 1st. They were determined to use moulded brick blocks for the mosque, a plan that got the nod of Oba Lawani Olanipekun Olaoye Orumogege II, the sole custodian of the central mosque.
The 12-member Kila Islamic Committee are as follows:
1. Alhaji Lawani Giwa (late) (Arere’s compound)
2. Alhaji Badawiyu Bango (late) (Bango’s compound)
3. Alhaji Busari Alasoko (late) (Alasoko compound)
4. Alhaji Kilani Bashorun Sarumi (late)
5. Alhaji Sanni Sanusi (late) (Onimama compound) – Secretary
6. Alhaji Bello Adejumo (late) (Ikolaba compound)
7. Chief Shittu Folaranmi Alao (late) (Baale Abede compound)
8. Alagba Bello Ayandipo (late) (Alubata’s compound)
9. Alagba Lawani Ola Alapo (late) (Alapo compound)
10. Alhaji Alimi Adebiyi (late) (Onkojo Edu compound)
11. Mallam Ibrahim (late) (The Jagun Alasa)
12. Alhaji Bello Adeniran, alias Omo Oba (late)
Oba Lawani Olanipekun Olaoye Orumogege II then approved that the contract for the rebuilding of the Central Mosque be awarded to AAMUSAMIYU LAMIDI CAREW, a native of Ibadan, with whom Oba Lawani Olanipekun Orumogege II shared childhood friendship with. The reconstruction of the contract mosque started in 1947 but was never completed before the contractor and all members of the committee except Alhaji Bello Adeniran (Alias Omo Oba) died – he has also since passed away. It was His Imperial Majesty Alayeluwa Oba Alhaji Jimoh Oladunni Oyewumi Ajagungbade IlI the late Soun of Ogbomosoland that eventually reconstructed the mosque through setting up of a new committee known as the Ogbomoso Special Committee on Islamic Affairs, which continued from where the Kila Committee left it.
Some functions of the Ogbomoso Special Committee on Islamic Affairs are as follows:
1. Completion of the Ogbomoso Central Mosque at Oja’gbo Ogbomoso and its continuous maintenance to ensure durability
2. To acquire a new Eld – praying ground in view of the rising population of the Ogbomoso Muslims. The Special Committee has since acquired the new praying ground and is now functional.
3. To design a new plan for the old Eld praying ground as an Islamic Centre, which is opposite the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Teaching Hospital, along old Ogbomoso – Ilorin road.
4. The continuous maintenance of the Ogbomoso Muslim Comprehensive College along Ogbomoso – Osogbo road.
5. To assist in any and every form that the Ogbomoso Muslim Community might need its assistance.
Finally, gentlemen of the press, the attached are the documents in relation to the appointment of the Imam Toliat Yunus Olusina and another of his pledge to not misbehave to the Soun and that if he does, he accepts any consequences that goes along with that. And if he is now saying he is not an appointee of the Soun of Ogbomosoland then these documents will prove to the contrary.
Please, let everyone always exercise due diligence of investigation before rushing to the press to spew defamatory statements against the person of His Imperial Majesty, Oba Afolabi Ghandi Olawoye Orumogege III, the Soun of Ogbomosoland.
I thank you for your patience and rapt attention.
Aare Alhaji AbdulGaniyu A. Owodunni
(The Aare Musulumi of Ogbomosoland)
Saturday, June 29, 2024.
