The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has accused the Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Ghandi Olaoye, of attempting to force the imam he appointed for his palace as the Chief Imam of Ogbomoso land, cautioning muslims in Ogbomoso not to fall for the Oba’s divide and rule tactics.

Executive Director of MURIC, Prof. Ishaq Akintola, said this in a statement, on Saturday.

He said the king’s action is a subterfuge to weaken Islam, a stratagem to enslave Muslims and a chicanery to exploit the Muslim population of Ogbomoso.

“The Soun of Ogbomoso, Friday, 30th, August, 2024 appointed one Habib Ayilara as the ‘Chief Imam’ of his palace. This is a democracy, nobody can gag us except a competent court of law. Soun has had his way, Nigerian Muslims must have their say.

“Soun’s most recent action is a subterfuge to weaken Islam, a stratagem to enslave Muslims and a chicanery to exploit the Muslim population of Ogbomoso.

“Besides, the Soun has committed titularic inexactitude and monarchical hara-kiri by giving the title ‘Chief Imam’ to a man appointed only as palace Imam. There is no vacancy in the Chief imamate of Ogbomoso because there can be only one Chief Imam in a city of the caliber of Ogbomoso and that post has been filled by Chief Imam Talihat Yunus Olushina Ayilara.

“Therefore, the correct title of the new Imam is ‘Palace Imam’ Habib Ayilara. He is the king’s special Imam, not the Chief Imam. Afterall, many individual Muslims are known to have separate mosque buildings in their compounds and they appoint Islamic scholars as their personal Imams.

“We warn the new Palace Imam to be wary of the king’s tactics. He must not allow the palace pastor to mislead him. It is sheer divide et impera.

“However, out of meanness and pettiness, the king has made his private Imam the official Imam to be recognized by the Oyo State Government.

“While we know that Governor Seyi Makinde is more than a willing accomplice in this scheme to diminish the status of Islam in Ogbomoso, we patiently await the court’s judgement,” Akintola said.

He said it is strange for a pastor king to have an Imam but since there is a mosque inside the palace, it is in order to have a Ratibi Imam (Imam of a branch mosque, not that of a Central Mosque).

He also said this is where the Soun has exhibited his zero knowledge of Islamic matters, and that unfortunately those who know better and who should have counselled him, elected to dance to the gallery.

He said, “Nonetheless, Nigerians must look at Soun’s action as an attempted coup (an unsuccessful one for that matter) against the Chief Imam of Ogbomoso. It also constitutes an incitement of Ogbomoso chiefs against their chief Imam.

“It is equally seen as an intimidation of holders of Islamic titles and the harassment of the League of Imams into submission. Interestingly, it is tantamount to contempt of court when properly interpreted particularly if the court’s pronouncement included maintenance of the status quo.

“We know where Pastor Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye, the Soun of Ogbomoso, is going. The body language is very clear. His aim is to make his palace Imam the Chief Imam of Ogbomoso. He has appointed a palace Imam but where is his palace bishop?

“Nigerians must ponder over this scandalous manipulation. His stratagem is to put his feet on the Chief Imam’s neck. He is mocking Islam, playing Muslims against one another,” Akintola said.