Ogbomoso Palace Imam Habeeb Ayilara steps out with Soun, speaks on emergence
Jeremiah OYELEKE
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The newly appointed Imam of Ogbomoso Palace, Sheikh Habeeb Adekunle Ayilara, on Sunday evening joined the Soun of Ogbomosoland His Imperial Majesty Oba Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye Orumogege III, to witness the opening ceremony of the maiden Orumogege Football Competition at the Soun Stadium, put together by Ogbomoso Community Youth Forum (OCYF) to commemorate the 1st anniversary of the monarch on the throne.
The attendance by Sheikh Habeeb Ayilara marked his first public appearance with the Soun since his installation ten days ago (August 30) in the palace.
The Palace Imam spoke with ogbomosoinsightonline.com at his family compost at Oke-Agbede, during which he expressed immense gratitude to Oba Ghandi Olaoye for his “steadfastness” and the generality of Muslims in Ogbomoso for what he described as their massive support during what he called the vicissitudes that travailed the Imam Ayilara family, where he hails from, leading to his emergence as Imam of the palace.
Recall the family is embroiled in a row with the Chief Imam of Ogbomoso Sheikh Teliat Yunus Olusina Ayilara sequel to the family’s claim he is not related to them by blood and so usurped their right to sit in the position being the family whose turn it is to produce the Chief Imam.
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Speaking on the significance of the Ayilara family among Muslim families in Ogbomoso Sheikh Habeeb Ayilara said the family has a strong foundation in Islam and being of the royal family of Ikoyi-Ile it is prominent and accounts for why it is one of the six Imam families in the town.
The Islamic scholar stated that as Imam he would be guided by great virtues and values expected of a spiritual leader of such exalted office asserting that an Imam must be upright, truthful, and exemplary in character.
Excerpts:
“I am Imam Habeeb Ahmed Tijani Usman Ayilara. I joined Kabiyesi the Soun of Ogbomosoland His Imperial Majesty Oba Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye to watch the match commemorating his one year of ascension as the Soun,” he disclosed.”
Journey to Imamship position
“We thank God, it is part of life’s challenges but God used Oba Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye Orumogege III to restore our position. He is a listening Oba, who upholds justice and fairness. He conducted thorough inquiries into the imbroglio after which he invited us and turbaned me, because he missed our position and service according to what he told us.”
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Challenge
“There is truly a big challenge but I thank all Muslims in Ogbomoso. If you look at the vicissitudes that assailed us in the Ayilara family and the way they stood by us you will realize that we have the support of all Muslims in Ogbomoso, they love us truly, we love one another, anything Islam is widely supported. When they found out they had been supporting lies they retraced their steps like a verse in the Quran says that when Prophet Ibrahim discovered his father was non-religious and not following God’s precepts he separated from him though he never disclaimed his father.
“What I want to bring out from this is that all Muslims in Ogbomoso from those that belong to different congregations to those who do not or are not members of any group, from the beginning stand by Islam and when they eventually discovered the side they were standing did not uphold the truth they pulled away and retraced their steps to the side of the truth. So, we thank everyone, congregations and groups, from the League of Imams and Alfas, NACOMYO, OMC (Ogbomoso Muslim Community), all Islamic groups including the Ogbomoso Muslim Justice Forum.”
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I have overwhelming support regarding my appointment
“Yes, all Ogbomoso Muslims back my appointment. This is because all Islamic groups that represent Muslims interests were represented at my installation ceremony implying they all support it.”
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Ayilara family has become famous – here is why
“It is a family that has a solid foundation, and is a family of royalty, we are descendants of the Onikoyi (mind you not Olukoyi) royal family of Ikoyi-Ile. The family strongly upholds Islamic tenets and its people are renowned Islamic scholars, which saw to the appointment of one of them as Mufasir and then Chief Imam of Ogbomoso in years past. In a nutshell, the Ayilara family has been serving Ogbomoso community through Islamic faith, that is why they are well known. The Ayilara family embraces inclusiveness, it accommodates diverse people, so, in the compound they have Arabic students, then, as a royal house, they have slaves, and as a household of great alfas they accommodate many friends who are equally alfas, many invited to swell the ranks of Arabic teachers in the compound, to impart knowledge and it is this feature that gave rise to the name Ayilara (rolling amidst people, literally).”
How we became a Chief Imam House
“The Soun royal dynasty of Ogbomoso is built on a strong foundation and as an Hadiz says, you put forward as leaders in a community people of immense knowledge and abilities and who have relevant apposite attributes. If it is in egungun cult put the one well versed in leadership, if it is Oro compound put them in the front, make a warrior compound the Balogun, and if it is those who are deeply knowledgeable in Islamic/Arabic teachings, make them Imams in the community. That is why Ayilara found space as an Imam family under Soun, from a long time till now.”
Relationship with the present Soun Oba Ghandi
“We have an ancient relationship, it is inherited, from our fathers, and we have continued the way our fathers related. As the Soun families inherit the throne is the way we also inherit the position of imam. We collaborate for the development of the town. You can never see an Ayilara descendant whether he is in the position of Imam or not being rebellious against the town because we have a strong foundation.”
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Attributes of a Chief Imam
“Aside knowledge, in fact, knowledge is infinitesimal as an attribute of a religious leader, though the person must be knowledgeable, but more than that the person must be patient and longsuffering, he must be of good behaviour, of sterling character, worthy of emulation, exemplary in character. He must not be someone who is belligerent, a liar, a thief and not full of all distasteful qualities. Anyone who displays such disdainful characters is unfit for leadership position more so religious leadership,” Sheikh Habeeb Ayilara, who lived for long in Katsina and Kaduna states submitted.
In ebullient mood he also received the leadership of Federation of Ogbomoso Students Union (FOGSU), who came to felicitate him on his appointment.
