The Traffic

Olugbon's Regrettable Stance on Ogbomoso Imam Tussle

Yakubu Haruna Yakubu 

The Olugbon of Orile-Igbon, Oba Francis Olusola Alao, has waded into the controversy surrounding the Chief Imam of Ogbomoso, taking a position that has been deemed regrettable. His press release, circulated by some media outlets, announced his support for the embattled Imam, sparking widespread criticism.

Analysts have described Olugbon's statement as a mockery of himself, demonstrating a lack of understanding of the issue at hand. The crux of the matter is the occupation of the Chief Imam position by someone who is allegedly not a member of the rightful family, the Ayilara. The Soun of Ogbomoso, the appointing authority, has been petitioned to resolve the matter, but the Imam has refused to relinquish the position.

Olugbon's declaration of support for the Imam has been seen as hypocritical, as it amounts to backing an appointee against the appointor. His claim that "stakeholders" are on top of the situation rings hollow, given his open bias towards the Imam. This has effectively disqualified him from being an impartial arbitrator in the matter.

Furthermore, Olugbon's assertion that traditional rulers have no authority over religious leaders has been met with derision. The Soun of Ogbomoso has been appointing the Chief Imam since 1818, and the current Imam was also appointed by the Soun. Olugbon's statement is seen as an attempt to undermine the traditional institution and the authority of the Obas.

The Olugbon's glorification of the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has also been criticized, given the organization's reputation for seeking relevance and attention. MURIC's recent intervention in a matter in Kaduna State was rubbished by the state government, highlighting its lack of credibility.

The Muslim leadership in Ogbomoso, comprising the League of Imams and Alfas, and the Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs, has expressed opposition to the Chief Imam, not the Soun. The Soun has been accused of not taking sides, which is seen as his "sin" by some.

To resolve the crisis, the Ayilara family has been urged to engage with the Chief Imam to verify his claims of being a member of the family. The Soun has stated that if the family confirms the Imam's membership, he will be satisfied. However, the Imam's failure to provide irrefutable evidence has perpetuated the crisis.

Olugbon's attempt to undermine the position of the Soun will ultimately fail, as it is seen as a hypocritical and attention-seeking move. His desire to resolve the palace's affairs from outside is laughable, given his own limitations.