24th September, 2024
PRESS RELEASE:
PROVIDE ADEQUATE SECURITY FOR OGBOMOSO CHIEF IMAM – MURIC
The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has appealed to
the Oyo State Police Command to provide security for the Chief Imam of
Ogbomoso, Shaykh Talhat Ayilara. The group said those who appointed another
Islamic scholar as ‘palace Chief Imam’ while the substantive Chief Imam is
still in office may have other sinister ideas.
MURIC expressed this fear in a statement issued on
Tuesday, 24th September, 2024 by the Executive Director of the human rights
organization, Professor Ishaq Akintola.
The statement reads:
"It will be recalled that the Soun of
Ogbomoso, Oba Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye, Orumogege III, recently appointed a
'palace Imam' even though his palace has no mosque. It was allegedly stated
that the 'palace Imam' would be representing the Muslim community in all
dealings with the Oyo State government.
"The
appointment also took place while there was a substantive Chief Imam for the
town. It requires no crystal ball to know that the newly appointed 'palace
Imam' is a reserved replacement for the substantive Chief Imam whenever ‘anything’
happens to the Chief Imam.
“The appointment of this ‘palace Imam’ while a
substantive, capable and active Chief Imam is in office and performing naturally
raises eyebrows. It is alien to the culture of Islam and it has never happened
in Ogbomoso.
“This is where the security agencies need to show
interest because those who were so desperate that they went as far as contriving
to bring in a 'palace Imam' despite a court injunction may have other
ideas.
"We
commend the Oyo State Police Command for the neutral, professional and laudable
role it has played in the matter so far. However, we appeal to the Command to
make the safety of the Chief Imam of Ogbomoso one of his major security
priorities. Prevention, they say, is always better than cure.
"This is important in order to maintain the
peaceful atmosphere that the city of Ogbomoso in particular and Oyo State in
general is well known for. There is no gainsaying the fact that the Imamate
affair of Ogbomoso has attracted the attention of Nigerian Muslims as a
whole.
"The Muslim Community in Nigeria is therefore
watching with keen interest. The Chief Imam of Ogbomoso must not disappear into
thin air."
#OyoStatePoliceCommand
#ProtectOgbomosoChiefImam
Professor Ishaq Akintola,
Founder/Executive Director,
Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC).
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