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.”
Professor Ishaq Akintola,
Founder/Executive Director,
Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC).
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