Yoruba youths urge Oyo govt to intervene in Soun, Imam face-off

The imbroglio between the Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Afolabi Ghandi Olaoye, and Chief Imam of Ogbomoso, Sheik Teliat Yunus Ayilara, took another dimension as Ogbomoso Muslim community, under the aegis of Special Committee on Islamic Affairs in Ogbomosoland, in conjunction with League of Imams and Alfas in Ogbomosoland called on Ayilara to caution his statements and reactions towards the stool of the monarch.

The Islamic bodies described the Chief Imam’s recent reactions to Oba Olaoye’s query as act of insubordination not only to the monarch, but also to the highly-revered stool of Soun of Ogbomoso, stressing that Muslim community in Ogbomoso will not allow anybody to tarnish the image of the monarch.

Balogun Musulumi of Ogbomosoland, Bello Ayobami, who spoke while addressing newsmen over the issue, at the weekend, said Muslims in Ogbomoso would not allow any unforeseen forces to cause disunity in Ogbomosoland.

He said that religion had never caused crisis in Ogbomoso despite having Muslims, Christians and even traditional worshippers living together in the town, adding that Soun has prerogative to choose any Muslim from any family of his choice as the Chief Imam of Ogbomosoland. Ayobami said that the steps taken by Ayilara had polarised and caused deep division among Ogbomoso Muslims.

MEANWHILE, the umbrella body of Yoruba youth groups, Yoruba Youth Socio-Cultural Association (YYSA), has appealed to the Oyo State Government to intervene in the lingering crisis between Oba Olaoye and Chief Imam Ayilara.

In a statement signed by YYSA National President, Olalekan Hammed and the National Secretary, Olawale Ajao, the group said if the rift was not nipped in the bud, it would degenerate into a religious crisis.

The Yoruba youth leaders said that the situation was becoming Christian-Muslim affairs because many people believe that it has gone beyond cultural indoctrination to poke-nosing into religious affairs.