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THE League of Imams and Alfas in Oyo State has called on administrators of the League in Yorubaland to address all pending contentious issues that necessitated the setting up of committees at the last meeting of the league.
The chapter also requested the headquarters of the league to respond to correspondences on the selection of the Mufti of Yorubaland, saying Oyo State is next in succession and thus reserves the right to present a consensus candidate for installation.
These were some of the resolutions of the state chapter of the League of Imams and Alfas in a communique issued after a stakeholders meeting held in Ibadn and presided over by the Chief Imam of Ibadanland and Grand Chief Imam of Oyo State, Sheikh AbdulGaniy Abubakri Agbotomokekere.
The enlarged meeting was attended by representatives of imams and alfas from Ibadan, Ibadan Less City, Oyo, Ogbomoso, Ibarapa, Ilora and Oke-Ogun zones one and two.
The league maintained that addressing the appointment of the Mufti of Yorubaland, correction of mistakes made in reference to positions occupied by the pioneers of the league from Oyo State, among others, have become imperative to foster unity among members.
Speaking on behalf of the state chapter of the league, a retired Professor of Islamic and Arabic Studies, University of Ibadan, Professor Kamil Oloso, frowned at the unilateral decision of an individual to impose someone as the Mufti, stressing that the chapter does not recognise “the impostor.”
“After the demise of the last Mufti from Osun State, Oyo State is next to produce the new Mufti, and he has to be a collective choice. We reject imposition of a candidate. It is our exclusive right to pick for the general league, not the other way round,” Oloso insisted.
Professor Oloso, who is the treasurer of the League of Imams and Alfas in Yorubaland, stressed the need for the reorganisation of the league’s executive council on zoning and rotational bases to avoid sit-tight syndrome and create inclusiveness.
He advised students from Markaz Arabic and Islamic Training Institute, Agege, Lagos, to shun rumour mongering and be courageous to implore the proprietor of the institute to exercise decorum in the interest of Islamic unity.
In his contributions to the call of the Oyo State chapter of the League of Imams and Alfas for due respect and recognition of the strides of pioneers from the state, the chairman of the state Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, Sheikh Hashim Atere, advocated the promotion of the literature of past Islamic erudite scholars by inaugurating a committee to write the history and contributions of imams and alfas from Oyo State to be taught in all Islamic schools for the enlightenment of the young generation.
The representative of the proprietor of the Arabic Institute of Nigeria, Elekuro, Ibadan, Sheikh Mansur Abdulsalam and the principal of the Madrosatu Ta’alimul Arobi Wal Islami, Monatan, Ibadan, Sheikh Luqman Abdulkarim, advised successors of Islamic heroes to sustain their progenitors’ legacies by exhibiting traits of love and unity in all Islamic activities.
Sheikh Miftaudeen Oloyin from Oyo urged the Chief Imam of Ibadanland to amend notable lapses in all activities of the league.
Another member of the league from Ibadan, Dr Muhammad-Lawal Alongbija, called for proper recognition of the efforts, financial contributions and achievements of Oyo State such as being the first port of consultation as acknowledged by Sheikh Adam Abdullah Al-Ilory in his maiden speech.
Dr Alongbija said efforts to foster unity should be credited to the imams and alfas from Oyo State who are advocates for the existence and survival of the association whenever issues are being discussed in the league.
The Chief Imam of Ogbomoso, Dr Yunus Teliat Ayilara, suggested a reformation of the Oyo State chapter to serve as a model for the headquarters in all activities.
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