“I take back my words” : Ilorin Mufty retracts controversial statements made in past public lectures

Sheikh Suleiman Farouq Onikijipa, the Grand Mufti of Ilorin, widely known as Al-Miskeen Bilahi, has publicly distanced himself from old, viral recordings containing controversial statements that many deemed inappropriate for a Muslim scholar of his class.

The Ilorin-born cleric, who has recently faced criticism over past lectures, addressed the issue in light of the tragic murder of Hafsat Yetunde, a final-year student at the Kwara State College of Education, allegedly killed for ritual purposes.

In the controversial tapes, Sheikh Onikijipa was alleged to have made statements such as “someone will eat human to achieve greatness,” among other remarks that sparked outrage among Muslims.

Responding to the backlash, the Grand Mufti acknowledged the confusion and anger his words had caused and expressed deep regret. He sought forgiveness from Allah and extended a heartfelt apology to those still hurt by his past statements.

“If achieving greatness required consuming humans, it wouldn’t mean literally cutting human flesh into pot and eating it.

“Many of those who are relevant and successful today—if not all—have stepped on others’ right to reach their positions. Many of you understand what you have done to get where you are today.

“In such situations, a wrong statement is not as damaging as its misinterpretation. May God protect us from speaking in error, and may we not be misunderstood. If I have made mistakes due to a slip of the tongue, despite my previous clarifications, some still remain unsatisfied.

“With this in mind, I have swallowed my words. Today, I openly declare that my earlier statement was incorrect. I retract it completely. May Allah forgive any sins incurred as a result, and I sincerely seek the forgiveness of those who are angry.”

Sheikh Onikijipa further urged his followers and the broader Muslim community to shift their focus to more pressing issues within Islam that benefit society. Emphasizing unity and collective progress, he called for a renewed commitment to addressing critical matters that promote the values and teachings of the faith.

“Let us now shift our focus to other matters. For the sake of Allah, we have numerous important issues to address concerning our religion.”