Grand Mufti of Yorubaland: Oluwo Lacks Power To Appoint, Remove Islamic Leaders – League of Imam and Alfas Declares

The League of Imam and Alfas in Yorubaland, Edo and Delta has declared that the Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrasheed Akanbi lacks the power to appoint, punish or remove Islamic leaders in his domain and Yorubaland.

The League supported its declaration with a recent judgement delivered by Justice Adegoke of the Osun State High Court which held that the Oluwo of Iwo has no role to play in the appointment , punishment and removal of Otun Ajanasi of Iwoland.

Led by the Asiwaju Musulumi of Yorubaland, Dr. Khamis Tunde- Badmus and its President who doubles as the Chief Imam of Ekiti State, Sheik Jamiu Kewulere, the league of Imam made the declaration during a visit to Governor Gboyega Oyetola at the government house, Osogbo Osun State.

The meeting with the Governor was at the instance of Asiwaju Tunde Badmus who was earlier visited by the leaders of Islamic faith to report the planned installation of Sheik Dawood Molaasan as the Grand Mufti of Yorubaland by the Oluwo.

The Islamic leaders warned Oba Akanbi to stop dabbling into Islamic matters, asking him to borrow a leaf from the judgement of the Osun State High Court refraining him from “appointing or removing Islamic leaders forthwith”

They described the move as “an attempt capable of denigrating islamic title in Yorubaland and conduct likely to cause breach of peace”.

Read and presented to Governor Gboyega Oyetola by their counsel, K. B. Odedeji, the league of Imams and Alfas stated in a letter that the powers to control and supervise activities bothering on Islamic issues including but not limited to appointment of Islamic title holders are within the jurisdiction of Islamic leaders

The letter was also submitted to the State Commissioner of police, CP Wale Olokode as well as to the Director of Department of State Security, DSS, Bankola Alade who were also present at the meeting.

The letter read in part “It is within the power of our client to appoint an Islamic title holder whose powers and jurisdiction cuts across the Yorubaland, Edo and Delta. They have one time or the other appointed the Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland, Asiwaju Adeen of Yorubaland, Baba Adeen of Yorubaland, Grand Mufti of Yorubaland among others.

“It needs be stated that a grand mufti is expected to be in charge of answering Islamic questions, settling and giving juristic opinions on contemporary Islamic issues within his jurisdiction. Therefore, occupying such position is meant for respected Islamic Scholars and appointing same is the power of equally respected Islamic scholars which our clients represent. It is not a traditional title which can be conferred by a traditional ruler like the Oluwo of Iwo on his own volition.

“When it is not in doubt that his majesty has the right to appoint traditional title holders of his town, to make an attempt to install a religious title holder the like of grand mufti to cover Yorubaland is not only bizarre, it is an attempt to bastardize Islam and Islamic institutions and cause acrimony among Muslims in Yorubaland.

“Interestingly, in a judgment recently delivered by a High Court of Justice of Osun State sitting in Iwo in HIK/24/2019: SHAYK KHALIFA ASIRU ADIO IMRAN VS AMUDA YUSUF ADIATU BELLO ALAYE & 2 OTHERS where Oluwo is the 2nd Defendant, it was held that Oluwo of Iwo has no role to play in the appointment of Otun Ajanasi of Iwoland.

“We then wonder how a traditional ruler who lacks power to appoint an Islamic leader of lesser rank in his own town will wake up overnight to appoint into the office of a Grand Mufti for the whole of Yorubaland,” the letter read.

It added “One can imagine the kind of confusion and serious crisis that can occur if other traditional rulers of other notable towns in Yorubaland appoint into the same position and they all meet in a function claiming the same title.

“It is against the above background we hereby have our clients’ instruction to call your attention to this bizarre action of Oluwo of Iwo and stop same before it snowballs into intra-cities religious breach of the peace. No past Oluwo of Iwo in history ever attempted to appoint or install an Islamic title holder covering the entire Yorubaland knowing clearly they had no power to do so. It has always been the prerogative of our client.”

Responding, Governor Oyetola thanked the league of Imam and Alfas for threading the path of peace and bringing the development to his notice.

He however promised that the government will look into the issue within its limit, saying issues of religions are not within the purview of government.

The Governor said “Governments don’t interfere in religious title conferment and so, I don’t interfere in religious matter. We will sit down and discuss it. We will take the right step. We must not allow it to take negative effect on our people and the society at large.”

Others at the meeting were the Secretary of the League, Sheikh Hamod Olagoke Aladesawe and Chairman of Ondo State, Imam Sheikh Abdul Ganiy, the chairmen of Oyo who is the Chief Imam of Ibadan, Abubakr Agbotomokekere, the Chairman of Osun who is the chief Imam of Osogbo, Sheikh Musa Animasahun.

Also, present were, the Chief Imam of Ogun State, Sheikh Sikrullah Babalola, the Mudir Markaz Agege, Sheikh Abibullah Adam as well as the representative of the chairman and Chief Imam of Lagos Sheikh Sulaiman Oluwatoyin Abu Nolla among others.