A query has been issued by the Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Afolabi Ghandi Olaoye to the Chief Imam of Ogbomoso, Sheikh Taliat Yunus Ayilara, for going to Saudi Arabia to perform the Hajj exercise without informing him (Soun).
Soun and the Chief Imam have been having a running battle since the installation of the monarch some months ago.
In the query, Soun claimed that the Chief Imam did not inform him before he embarked on the journey.
The traditional ruler in the letter dated 10th June 2024, said that what the Chief Imam did was in contrast with the undertaking he signed before he became the Chief Imam.…CONTINUE READING
The query was signed by the palace Secretary, Toyin Ajamu, on behalf of the traditional ruler.
The letter reads “I refer to the earlier query issued to you with regards to your unbecoming and reprehensible conducts as Chief Imam Agba of Ogbomosoland and the need to desist from such conducts.
“You will recall that on your appointment as Chief Imam Agba of Ogbomosoland, you signed an undertaking and agreement which you agreed will be binding on you.
“In the said undertaking, you unequivocally undertook to inform the Soun of Ogbomoso before travelling outside Ogbomoso.
“However, we have been informed that you are currently in Mecca on a Holy pilgrimage without notifying the Soun. This is a clear violation of your undertaking.
“Secondly, you agreed not to appoint any surrogate during your tenure without the approval of His Royal Majesty, Soun of Ogbomoso.
“Nevertheless, we have received information that you have appointed a surrogate namely Sheik Abdulrahman Alim Areo as the acting Chief Imam Agba of Ogbomosoland, who led the Jumat Prayer of Friday, 7th June 2024 of the Central Mosques.
“This action is a direct breach of your undertakings. As the Soun of Ogbomosoland, I hereby demand that you immediately return to Ogbomoso and rectify these violations and desist from any further actions that violate the undertakings you signed on the approval of your appointment as Chief Imam Agba of Ogbomosoland”.
Meanwhile, The Chief Imam of Ogbomoso, Sheik Teliat Yinus Ayilara has told the Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Afolabi Ghandi Olaoye, that the office of the Chief Imam is not a traditional title.
Ayilara noted that the Chief Imam is not under the control of the Soun of Ogbomoso, hence, Soun has no power to query him.
Ayilara made these declarations in a letter addressed to the Soun as a response to a query issued to the Chief Imam by the traditional ruler.
But, the Chief Imam, in his reaction, noted that he responded to the letters issued by the traditional ruler out of deep respect he have for Yoruba culture and tradition.
Ayilara, in the letter signed by his secretary, Ogunleye Sulaimon Ajasa, insisted that as a Muslim and spiritual head of the Muslim community in Ogbomoso, he is not subjugating the rules regulating the practice of Islam to Yoruba tradition and culture.
In the letter made available to our correspondent on Thursday, Ayilara said, “My case is that the office of Grand Chief Imam of Ogbomosoland is not a traditional title, and as such, it is not under the control of Soun of Ogbomosoland.
“My case against your majesty is still in court. And I strongly believe that when a matter is in court, the parties in the case must respect the authority of the court by abstaining from anything that may affect the case in court.
“Your majesty calling on me to revert the appointment of those Muslim brethren I installed as Grand Mufti of Ogbomosoland, Amirul Wa’izin of Ogbomosoland, Khadimul-Islam of Ogbomosoland and Kanzul ‘Ulama’ of Ogbomosoland, to immediately return to Nigeria and rectify the appointment of acting Grand Chief Imam of Ogbomosoland I made is directly related to the case in court and I think the court must be respected.
“I also need to state that I am responding to your Majesty’s letters out of deep respect I have for Yoruba culture and tradition.
“However, as a Muslim and spiritual head of the Muslim community in Ogbomosoland, I am not subjugating the rules regulating the practice of Islam to Yoruba tradition and culture. It is a collective right of all Muslims. Kabiesi, I have forwarded the letters to my lawyers for onward transmission to the court. God bless Ogbomosoland, God bless Oyo State and God bless Nigeria at large.”
