By Adeola Badru

THE Ogbomoso Muslim Youth Forum, yesterday, insisted that religious leaders are not placed under traditional rulers as regards the chieftaincy law in Oyo State.

The Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Afolabi Ghandi Olaoye had queried the Chief Imam of the town, Sheik Teliat Ayilara for going to Saudi Arabia to perform the Hajj exercise without informing him.

Reacting to the recent query, the group, in a statement by its Chairman, Alhaji Ishaq AbdurRaheem maintained that the chieftaincy law does not place the Chief Imam and by extension all religious leaders as minor chiefs under the prescribed authority of kings as revealed in the query letters issued by the Soun.

AbdurRaheem said: “As a rejoinder to the Press Conference titled ‘Imbroglio in Ogbomosoland: Need to Avoid Instigating Violence and Insubordination against Constituted Authorities’ held on June 29, 2024, by a coalition of few members of Ogbomoso Special Committee on Islamic Affairs, alongside absconded members of the Imam-in-Council, dissenting members of the League of Imams and Alfas and aggrieved members of Ayilara Family, Ogbomoso Muslim Youth Forum under the chairmanship of Alhaji Ishaq AndurRaheem wishes to accentuate the facts of the matter.

“The conveners of the conference tactically sought to exonerate Oba Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye Orumogege III from the saga. The Kabiyesi was cajoled into believing that the propagandists were the real leaders of Islam in Ogbomoso when none of them possessed the required Islamic education to lead Muslims.

“And on the occasion when Ogbomoso Muslim Youth Forum sought dialogue with the king long before the issue escalated, they were unceremoniously sent out of the palace. The late Soun, Oba Jimoh Oladunni Oyewumi Ajagungbade III formed this Special Committee on Islamic Affairs (led by Aare Musulumi ofMuslim’s Ogbomosoland) in his capacity as a Muslim stakeholder to enable the community to benefit from their resources and influence towards advancing Islam.

“The Muslim Community is one global community with an ultra-high sense of brotherhood. It is, therefore, natural that the unprecedented actions of Oba Ghandi Olaoye Orumogege III provoked reactions from all Muslims. Nobody invited or sponsored all the mediators visiting the city for peace as speculated in the press conference. This exposed the conveners’ bad intentions.”

“We believe that the Chief and Customary Laws of Oyo State (as amended) does not place the Chief Imam and by extension all religious leaders as Minor Chiefs under the Prescribed Authority of Kings as revealed in the controversial query letters issued by the king on June 10 and 14, 2024 hence why we approached the Oyo State High Court for clarity with the Imam having done so earlier. We expected our dear monarch to maintain the status quo as ordered by the court pending the determination of the substantive suits so as not to be held in contempt of court.

“Lastly, the Soun of Ogbomosoland and the populace should know the real identity of the Press Conference conveners. They are not the leaders of the Ogbomoso Muslim Community, OMC, as wrongly claimed. The security agencies and the palace should therefore take note”, the forum stated.