Shina Abubakar, Osogbo

Fresh crisis imminent in Inisa, Odo-Otin local government area of Osun State as a Muslim group in the town threatens to embark on mass protest over imposition of imam on the community central mosque.

The community central mosque had been without leadership since the demise of the imam, his deputy and third in command within the space of two months in 2020, following the crisis over succession plan.

However in December 2023, Osun State Governor after observing jumat prayer in the mosque adopted one Hakeem Jamiu as the imam of the mosque.

But a Muslim group in the town, Inisa Muslim Elites Association, IMEA, while addressing newsmen in Osogbo on Thursday, described the governor’s action as an affront on Islamic teachings and provided guidelines on the appointment of imam.

Fielding questions from journalist, Imam Raji Oladejo, said the Muslim ummah in the town is ready to laid down their lives to the dictates of the religion on the matter ans would not succumb to any imposition from any quarter.

His words, “We have call the attention of every stakeholder on this matter over the illegalities of those who imposed an imam on us in Inisa. We have repeatedly stressed the need to follow due process, a case is still in court, yet, they imposed and handed over the mosque to one those joined in the matter before the court.

“We would not, as a group or individual, hesitate to lay down our lives to defend what is right on this matter. This is why we are rising this alert now for every Muslim stakeholders in the State to avert violence by taking the right steps now”.

Also speaking via zoom, Professor Labo Popoola, a member of IMEA, stressed that the group’s major concern is that every qualified individual should be allowed to take part in the process of choosing an imam rather than for a group of people to impose on the community.

He stressed the need to make sure that someone with the right description that befit an imam be chosen to lead over religious matter rather than just any individual.