Chief Imam of Ogbomoso, Sheik Teliat Yinus Ayilara, says the Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Afolabi Ghandi Olaoye, lacks the authority to query him as the office of the Chief Imam is not a traditional title.
Ayilara stated that the Chief Imam is, therefore, not under the control of the Soun of Ogbomoso, stressing that the monarch has no power to query him.
Ayilara stated these in a letter he addressed to the Soun in response to a query issued to him by the traditional ruler.
Recall that the Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Afolabi Ghandi Olaoye, had earlier issued a query to the Chief Imam for going to Saudi Arabia to perform Hajj exercise without informing him.
But the Chief Imam, in his reaction, explained that he responded to the letters issued by the traditional ruler out of deep respect he has for Yoruba culture and tradition.
The Chief Imam, in the letter signed by his Secretary, Ogunleye Sulaimon Ajasa, insisted that as a Muslim and spiritual head of the Muslim community in Ogbomoso, he’ll not subjugate the rules regulating the practice of Islam to Yoruba tradition and culture.
Ayilara stated in the letter, “My case is that the office of Grand Chief Imam of Ogbomosoland is not a traditional title, and as such, it is not under the control of Soun of Ogbomosoland.
“My case against your majesty is still in court. And I strongly believe that when a matter is in court, the parties in the case must respect the authority of the court by abstaining from anything that may affect the case in court.
“Your majesty calling on me to revert the appointment of those Muslim brethren I installed as Grand Mufti of Ogbomosoland, Amirul Wa’izin of Ogbomosoland, Khadimul-Islam of Ogbomosoland and Kanzul ‘Ulama’ of Ogbomosoland, to immediately return to Nigeria and rectify the appointment of acting Grand Chief Imam of Ogbomosoland I made is directly related to the case in court and I think the court must be respected.
“I also need to state that I am responding to your Majesty’s letters out of deep respect I have for Yoruba culture and tradition.
“However, as a Muslim and spiritual head of the Muslim community in Ogbomosoland, I am not subjugating the rules regulating the practice of Islam to Yoruba tradition and culture. It is a collective right of all Muslims. Kabiesi, I have forwarded the letters to my lawyers for onward transmission to the court. God bless Ogbomosoland, God bless Oyo State and God bless Nigeria at large.”
