Yoruba Mufty saga: Oyo State Imams, scholars reject Mudeerul Markaz’s appointee

In a powerful gathering on March 9th, 2024, at the Oja-oba Central Mosque Hall in Ibadan, Imams and Alfas under the umbrella of RABITAH, Oyo state chapter, convened to address the contentious issue surrounding the unofficial appointment of the Mufti of Yorubaland.

The Chief Imam of Oyo State, Fadilat Shaykh Abdul Ganiy Abu-Bakr Agbotomokekere, presided over the three-hour meeting, emphasizing that their intent was not to create enmity but to advocate for due process and respect for the rights of other states.

Prof. K. K. Oloso, the Wakeelul Muslimeen of Oyo state, provided a detailed report on the last RABITAH meeting. The focus was initially on discussing the commencement date of Ramadan, with the Mufty issue seemingly introduced without unanimous approval. The meeting welcomed diverse opinions, ultimately concluding on several key points:

The method used to select the Mufty was unknown to RABITAH since its inception in 1964.

The last meeting primarily intended to discuss the start date of Ramadan, and the Mufty issue was brought up unexpectedly.
Oyo state is rightfully positioned to present the next Mufty, with Fadeelatu Shaykh Dr. Abdul Barihi Aremu Adetunji selected for the role.

The Oyo state chapter officially drafted a letter in 2022, outlining their stance and nominee, Dr. Abdul Barihi Aremu Adetunji, following the vacancy left by the late Shaykh Hamzat Husayn (Dohaak).

The meeting attendees expressed complete disregard for the appointment of Shaykh Abdul Rasaq Abdul Azeez Ishola.

With over two hundred and fifty Imams and Alfas in attendance, including prominent figures like Fadilat Shaykh Talhah Yunus and Fadilat Shaykh Abdul Lateef Eleyele, the Oyo state chapter of RABITAH awaits intervention from the Southwest chapter.

The urgency is emphasized, as the issue could potentially ignite tensions within this revered institution.

In accordance with their beliefs, the Imams invoked the Quranic principle: “And those who answer the Call of their Lord, and conduct their affairs by mutual consultation…” (Quran 42:38).

The call for mutual consultation resonates as a plea for unity and adherence to established processes within the esteemed organization.

Recall that a legal practitioner, barrister Abdulsalam Abdulfatah Liberty, recently vowed to drag the Mudir (spiritual and administrative leader and rector) of the popular Markaz Arabic and Islamic Training Centre, Agege, Lagos, Habeebullah Adam Al-Ilory, to court over the controversial appointment of Sheikh Abdul-Rasaq Abdul-Azeez Ishola as the Grand Mufti of Yorubaland, Edo and Delta States.

He accused the elder son of the late Sheikh Adam Al-Ilory, of dividing the rank of Muslims in the Yorubaland by appointing a fresh Mufti when there is an existing one who has not been disqualified or removed by a competent court of law through a valid pronouncement.

He said, “It is the way of Satan (devil) to always throw stones at it anytime Islam is enjoying a controversies-free period. We can never like you, even if you run your head against the wall.

He vows to institute a legal case against the scholar in his capacity as a legal practitioner.