Stop Attempt To Install Grand Mufti of Yorubaland: League of Imam and Alfas Warns Oluwo

The League of Imam and Alfas in Yorubaland, Edo and Delta have sent a strong warning to the Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrasheed Akanbi to stop his attempt to install Sheikh Dawood Molaasan as the grand Mufti of Yorubaland.

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

It said it is not only bizarre but an attempt to bastardize Islam and Islamic institutions and cause acrimony among Muslims in Yorubaland.

The League stated this on Wednesday in a letter read and presented to Governor Gboyega Oyetola through their counsel, K. B. Odedeji during a meeting at the banquet hall of the government house in Osogbo, Osun State.

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.

Led by the Asiwaju, Deen of Muslim of Yorubaland, Asiwaju Tunde Badmus and its President who doubles as the Chief Imam of Ekiti State, Sheik Jamiu Kewulere to the meeting, they maintained that, the league controls and supervises activities bothering on Islamic issues including but not limited to appointment of Islamic title holders within its jurisdiction.

According to the counsel, “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 it 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.