The Chairman of the Oyo State Muslim Community, Alhaji Kunle Sanni, has condemned what he described as an unlawful and baseless attempt, spearheaded by the Mudeer of Markaz, Sheikh Habibullah Adam Al-Ilory, to remove the Chief Imam of Ogbomoso, Sheikh Teliat Yunus Ayilara.

Speaking at a Special Southern Ulama Summit held in Ibadan, Sanni faulted the move by the Mudeer during a recent League of Imams and Alfas conference in Lagos.

He insisted that neither the Mudeer nor the League has the authority to pronounce the removal of the Ogbomoso Chief Imam.

“A man stayed at Agege and started removing the Imam of Ogbomoso,” he declared.

“Let me tell you without fear of contradiction that if anybody supports the rubbish he is doing, the Imam of Ibadanland is not part of them. He was not at that meeting because he was hosting the Sultan here in Ibadan.

“And as the Chairman of the Muslim Community (In Oyo State), I want to tell you that no man at Agege can remove the Imam of Ogbomoso. He is wasting his time, what he is trying to do is pure rubbish.

Sanni emphasized that the office of the Ogbomoso Chief Imam is not subject to external manipulation, describing the attempt as “pure rubbish.”

He noted that the matter is currently before a court of law, making any interference sub judice.

“In any case, the League of Imams and Alfas, we respect them, but they were not the ones who installed the Imam. How can you remove someone you did not install, and for what reason?” he queried.

The Muslim leader praised Sheikh Teliat as “one of the best Imams we have in Nigeria today,” urging full support for him as a young cleric with significant responsibilities.

“All of us are supposed to support him and give him the courage he needs to perform,” he added.

Sanni further criticized what he described as a pattern of inflammatory conduct from the Mudeer Markaz. “Some people just stay in Agege and start talking rubbish, and this is not the first rubbish,” he said.

“Somebody who was insulting the Sahabah of the Prophet, what can he say that will make sense? That is internal terrorism; may Allah save us from it.”

His remarks add to the growing reactions across the Southwest as Muslim leaders continue to debate the legality, authority, and intent behind the controversial removal attempt.

Sheikh Habeeb, an indegen of Ilorin in Kwara State but resident in Lagos, at the just concluded League of Imam of Alfas conference in Lagos, announced another representative of Ogbomoso in the league, Habibullah Ayilara, calling him the new Imam of Ogbomosoland as against the sitting Imam, Dr Teliat Ayilara.

Mudeer had, at a recent meeting of the League, accused the Chief Imam og Ogbomosoland of not respecting the League's decisions in pre-announcing Ramadhan dates, as against the islamic tradition of moonsighting; not recognising the Mufti appointed by the League, amongst other allegations.

Dr Teliat defended himsef saying he had been a member of the League ever before becoming the Grand Chief Imam of Ogbomosoland.