Ilesa Muslim Community, Osun Gov’t lock horns over move to demolish central mosque for road widening project

The Muslim community in Ijesa have locked horns with the Osun State Government over the planned demolition of the Ilesa Central Mosque for road dualisation, citing a lack of due consultation.

The community, led by Grand Imam Sheikh Alh. Muhammad Jamiu Idris was surprised by the sudden move, despite earlier assurances that only the outer fence would be affected and compensation paid.

Seven mosques, including the Central Mosque, are expected to be impacted, but the community has not received any communication from the government regarding the demolition.

A statement signed by Alfa AbdulAzeez Bakare, the Secretary of the community, noted that on Wednesday, June 26, 2024, bulldozers arrived at the Central Mosque, prompting the Grand Imam and other Muslim leaders to rush to the scene to prevent demolition without prior consultation.

The timely intervention prevented a potentially volatile situation, as many Muslims had gathered at the mosque. The community is urging the Osun State Government to call the contractor to order and open a channel of discussion to resolve the issue amicably.

The Ijesa Muslim Community is seeking a peaceful resolution and appealing to the government to honour its earlier promise.

The statement reads:

“The Ijesa Muslim Community under the leadership of the Grand Imam of Ijesaland, Sheikh Alh. Muhammad Jamiu Idris  has rejected the planned demolition of Ilesa Central Mosque, Ereja square, Ilesa.

“The Grand Imam of Ijesaland and the Executive of Ijesa Muslim Community were taken aback by the sudden twist  of events on the ongoing road dualization project currently being undertaking by the Osun State Government in Ilesa.

“The Ijesa Muslim Community had earlier been assured that the road dualization is only going to affect the outer fence of the Central Mosque with payment of compensation for any demolished part as Osun State Governor had earlier promised during the IPADE IMOLE that heralded the commencement of the road dualization project.

“Earlier projections had shown that about Seven(7) Mosques in Ilesa including the Central Mosque are likely going to be affected to varying degrees and the Community had been expecting the Government to open channel of communications to discuss the issue of all the Mosques but that has not come to reality yet.

“It thus came as a surprise to the Grand Imam of Ijesaland and the entire Muslims in Ijesaland when news filtered in the morning of Wednesday, 26th June 2024 that bulldozers are being mobilized toward the Central Mosque for possible demolition. This made many Muslims including the Grand Imam of Ijesaland, Shaikh Alh. Muhammad Jamiu Idris, Grand Naibul Imam of Ijesaland, Alhaji Qazim Mudasir , Grand Mufasir of Ijesaland, Alhaji AbdulSemiu Alli Amokeoja, the Chairman Ijesa Muslim Community,  Ajanasi of Ijesaland, prominent stakeholder of Ijesa Muslim Community, Alhaji Nurudeen Alli Amokeoja, Secretary of Ijesa Muslim Community, and other notable Muslims in Ijesaland to rush down to the Mosque to stop the Contractor from embarking on any demolition on the Mosque without prior meeting and consultation between the leadership of the Ijesa Muslim Community and the representatives of Osun State Government.

“It was the timely presence and appeal of the Grand Imam of Ijesaland and other notable Muslims that saved the situation from going out of hand as many Muslims had mobilized to the Central Mosque when it was being evident that the Contractor had received instructions from certain quarters to proceed with the demolition and attempts by the leadership of the Ijesa Muslim Community to get the attention of Osun State Government to respond to the issue were not successful.

“In view of the urgency and sensitive nature of the issue, the leadership of the Ijesa Muslim Community is using this opportunity to call on the Osun State Government to call the contractor handling the project to order, brief him appropriately not to go beyond earlier agreement and also open channel of discussion with the leadership of the Ijesa Muslim Community under the leadership of the Grand Imam of Ijesaland Alhaji  Shaikh Muhammad Jamiu Idris on the way forward.

“The Grand Imam of Ijesaland and the leadership of the Ijesa Muslim Community is also using this opportunity to appreciate and acknowledge the efforts of all those who came around or/also made various calls and contacts.”