19th February, 2024
STEER CLEAR OF IMAM OFFICE: MURIC TELLS SOUN
An Islamic human rights organization, the Muslim Rights Concern
(MURIC), has warned the newly crowned Soun of Ogbomosho, Oba Ghandi Afolabi
Olaoye, to steer clear of the office of the Chief Imam of the city in the
interest of peace and tranquility. MURIC alleged that Muslims in the city have
accused the Soun of making subterranean moves to replace the Chief Imam with
his own favourite candidate.
The warning was handed down on Monday, 19th February, 2024 in a
press statement issued by the Executive Director of the faith-based
non-governmental organization, Professor Ishaq Akintola.
"Muslims of Ogbomosho have reported that the new Soun, Oba
Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye, is already making surreptitious moves to remove the
Chief Imam of Ogbomosho. He plans to replace him with a palace puppet. Already,
there is palpable tension in the city of Ogbomosho due to this ugly
development.
"We like to remind the Soun that first
and foremost, as a Christian, he cannot pick an Imam for Muslims. Apart from
being a Christian, kings have no business in the choice of Imams. It is the
prerogative of Islamic scholars in that city. The king's duty is to cooperate
with any Imam chosen by the Muslims of any city in maintaining peace and
tranquility. Therefore, it is wrong for the Soun to poke his nose into the
affairs of Muslims.
"Besides, the king will be acting ultra vires if he
attempts to replace the Chief Imam. Nothing in the laws of Oyo State, or any
state in the South West for that matter, empowers the Oba to remove or replace
an Imam. Any such attempt will be illegal, illegitimate, unlawful and
unconstitutional. The days of l’etat cest moi a la Louis XIV are
over. We are in a democracy, Yoruba Muslims will not pander to royal excesses.
"We hereby repeat inter alia our press statement of 8th
January, 2024 captioned 'Stop Influence of Kings on Yoruba Imams - MURIC'
(https:muslimrightsmuric.
"We have seen this in many
Yoruba cities particularly whenever an Imam dies and a new one is about to be
appointed. The kings often influence the choice of the new Imam particularly
where the post is competitive. It is also the king who gives the Imam the staff
of office.
"This is an erroneous, archaic
and obnoxious practice because the king has no role whatsoever to play in the
imamate under the Shari'ah, particularly where Islam is not used as the form of
government (a non-Islamic State). This is different from what applies in an
Islamic state where Islamic political thought is the state policy and the
khalifah is equally the Imam.
"The greatest danger in this is
that the Oba (king) may impose a Muslim favourite who has no appropriate
prerequisites for the post of Imam on the Muslims. This has dire consequences.
Already, some crisis brewing in some towns in Yorubaland can be traced to this
ugly phenomenon.
"It is even worse where the king is not a Muslim. A
Christian or traditionalist as king dictating to the Imam or influencing
decisions and steps to be taken by Muslims is a complete anomaly in Islam. It
is absurd, illogical, irrational and therefore unacceptable. Many mosques
have been ordered closed by non-Muslim kings using the most trivial and
ridiculous pretext.
"We will use every legitimate means at our disposal to stop
this crude, divisive and selfish attempt to erode the freedom of Yoruba Muslims
to choose their own leaders. It is sheer monachical autocracy characteristic of
the ancient practice of African traditional rulers who sold their subjects to
European slave masters for ordinary mirrors. The question is for how much is
the Soun selling the Muslims of Ogbomosho to fishers of men?
"We will not stand akimbo while the Soun reenacts this inhuman
and sadistic practice of the imperialists. We therefore call on the Soun of
Ogbomosho to leave the Chief Imam alone. Any further pursuit of this diabolical
mission will be regarded as a declaration of confrontation with the Ogbomosho
Muslim community. A word is enough for the wise.
Meanwhile we appeal to the Ogbomosho Muslim community, particularly
the already agitated Muslim youths to remain calm and law abiding."
#ObaGhandi
#LeaveChiefImamAlone
Professor Ishaq Akintola,
Executive Director,
Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC).
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