Ogbomoso ruling houses have warned the Chief Imam Teliat Yunus Olushina Ayilara, against further verbal attacks on the Soun of Ogbomosoland, Oba Afolabi Ghandi Olaoye, describing his actions as a desecration of the stool.
Representatives of the affected ruling houses—Prince Lamidi Inability (Mogaji Aburumaku Ruling House), Prince Sikira Oyelami (Mogaji Gbagun Ruling House), Prince Olawole Olakulehin (Mogaji Laoye Ruling House), Prince Oyebamiji Oyediji (Rep Bolanta Ruling House), and Prince Ilufoye Olayode (Odunaro Ruling House)—jointly signed a statement stating that the people of Ogbomosoland would no longer tolerate the ignoble acts.
They asserted that hurling abuses at Oba Olaoye is tantamount to desecrating the exalted throne of Soun and, by extension, the people of Ogbomosoland.
The ruling houses absolved Soun of any wrongdoing in the matter and wondered why Oba Ghandi has become a subject of attacks.
The statement read: “We are constrained to create this forum to address an issue of public importance. It is the grave matter of the Chief Imam of Ogbomoso, which has become festering and has polarized the Muslim community and indeed the whole community.
“Initially, we took it with a pinch of salt, believing it would fizzle out naturally as a religious matter expected to have the fear of God.
“We are bewildered and alarmed by the lies being peddled by the Chief Imam on the matter and, more importantly, his dragging the Soun, Alayeluwa Oba Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye Orumogege III, the Soun of Ogbomosoland, into the matter and abusing the Kabiyesi. This, we take exception to.
“Our purpose this afternoon is to correct the wrong impression being peddled and to warn the Chief Imam to desist from further hurling invectives at the Kabiyesi. By abusing the Oba, he is desecrating the exalted throne of Soun and, by extension, the people of Ogbomoso.
“What is the genesis of the problem? The Imam Ayilara family alleged he is not a bona fide member of the family, and the Kabiyesi set up different panels to look into it. The recommendation of the different panels is that he steps aside while he sorts out the matter with the family.
“The Kabiyesi refused to implement the recommendation after some eminent personalities, including Senator Ayo Adeseun and Dr. Saka Balogun, appealed on his behalf, asking for seven days (effective from October 23, 2023) to make amends. But up till date, they never returned.
“However, instead of the matter fading away, it is being exacerbated by the Chief Imam himself, as he refuses to toe the path of peace. Rather, he is promoting lies and, more dastardly, he is abusing the Kabiyesi. Not only that, he instituted court cases against the Soun and the Soun-in-Council. This has never happened in the history of Ogbomoso—that a Chief Imam will sue the Soun to court.
“His insults against the Kabiyesi are infuriating. We condemn and denounce his impudence and actions. He is warned to stop talking about the Soun; he should sort out his problem with his family as it has nothing to do with our revered Kabiyesi.
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“He should never mention Soun’s name in the imbroglio again because his utterances are distracting and creating disaffection. Moreover, all the recent appointments he made are null and void because he never obtained the approval of the Soun in accordance with custom and tradition.
“For him to have taken Soun to court is sacrilegious! How can you sue someone who installed you? The Soun stool has nothing to do with whether you are a Christian or Muslim; it is an institution that transcends such absurdity.
“Finally, we reaffirm that the Ogbomoso Central Mosque is the property of the Soun; it belongs to the King. We reiterate that the Soun ruling houses express disapproval of the impudent acts of the Chief Imam, which is a defilement of the sanctity of the throne of our forefathers.
“However, we are constrained by the court cases and await their verdicts. In the interim, we refuse to be distracted or drawn into the shenanigans of the Imam and his cohorts. We restate that we will not tolerate such behavior from him again.”
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