BREAKING; You have no power to issue me query — Chief Imam replies Soun of Ogbomoso land
BREAKING; You have no power to issue me query — Chief Imam replies Soun of Ogbomoso land
The Chief Imam of Ogbomoso land, Sheik Teliat Yinus Avilara, has asserted to the Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Afolabi Ghandi Olaoye, that his position is not a traditional title and thus not subject to the Soun’s authority.
In a letter responding to a query from the Soun, Sheik Avilara emphasised that the office of the Chief Imam operates independently and is not under the control of traditional rulers. He clarified that the Soun does not possess the power to issue queries to him.
The query was reportedly issued because the Chief Imam had undertaken a Hajj pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia without prior notification to the Soun. Sheik Avilara defended his actions by stating that his responses to the Soun’s queries were out of respect for Yoruba culture and tradition.
The Chief Imam, through his secretary Ogunleye Sulaimon Ajasa, reiterated that as the spiritual leader of the Muslim community in Ogbomoso, he adheres strictly to Islamic principles and does not subordinate them to Yoruba traditions or customs.
In the letter released on Thursday, Ayilara said, “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.”
