“No Bastard Among Us”: Onikijipa Family Tackles Mudir Markaz Sheikh Adam El-Ilory Over Attacks on Mufty of Ilorin

The Onikijipa family in Ilorin has urged the Ilorin Emirate Council to intervene and restrain Sheikh Mohammed Adam (El-Ilory), the Mudir of Markaz Centre for Arabic and Islamic Studies, Agege, Lagos, over his repeated attacks on Sheikh Sulaimon Faruq (Onikijipa), the Mufty of Ilorin.

In a statement issued by Abdulrahman Onikijipa, the Magaji of the Onikijipa compound, and made available on Monday, the family denounced claims that the Mufty’s lineage is questionable. Titled “No Bastard Among the Onikijipa: A Rejoinder to Habibullah Adam Al-Ilory,” the statement emphasized that the Onikijipa lineage remains indivisible and that all descendants share a common heritage.

The family dismissed El-Ilory’s assertions that Sheikh Faruq Onikijipa’s father was not part of the Onikijipa family, calling them false and misleading. It accused the Markaz leader of trying to distort history and create division among family members for self-serving reasons.

This is not the first time the Principal of Markaz has attempted to redefine Onikijipa’s ancestry, contradicting even the accounts of his own father, Sheikh Adam Abdullahi Al-Ilory.

The family described as bogus his claim that only Alfa Alabi Onikijipa is the true heir, reiterating that both Alfa Alabi Onikijipa and Alfa Faruq Onikijipa—the Mufty’s father—are brothers and part of the same lineage.

“We are compelled to release this statement in view of the recent shenanigans being displayed by Habibullah Adam Al-Ilory. We would not have responded to the story he put up in his head for reasons best known to him, but for the important need to set the record straight so that in the future people will not doubt our history as one strong Onikijipa family. This is not the first time this individual has tried to rewrite history, even in explicit contradictions to his father’s narrations, in his usual bid to claim the “all-knowing”. He is the only one who can help us understand the reasons for doing that. As far as we are concerned, he is just being mischievous.

“On Friday, 22nd of Ramadan, Habibullah Adam Al-Ilory informed his listeners that he wanted to attack the Onikijipa family. During his daily tafsir, he went astray to attack our family in his usual manner, an attempt to create disunity among us. But for his information, we are one strong indivisible family.

“There are some points that need to be addressed. Habibullah Adam Al-Ilory claimed that our illustrious son, Sheikh Suleiman Faruq Onikijipa, the grand Mufti of Ilorin, is angry with Sheikh Adam Al-Ilory, Habibullah’s father, because the sheikh did not mention Sheikh Suleiman Faruq’s father in his book. This is not only laughable but a lie from the pit of hell. Habibullah should inform us of the point at which Sheikh Suleiman said this and in what context. We believe this is just another lie to discredit the Mufty’s good image. That is Habibullah Adam Al-Ilory’s trade mark: he attacks everyone. He recently did the same to the people of Agbogunmati.

“As if that was not enough, Habibullah Adam Al-Ilory narrated that Sheikh Suleima’s father is not a member of Onikijipa. This is another nonsense! His theory is that any house or household in Ilorin that is situated outside the main compound is not part of the family. Such a household, according to his theory, must have been given or gifted to the land. They are not originally part of the family. One begins to wonder if Habibullah Adam Al-Ilory remembers where his own family house is situated in Ilorin. It is there for everyone to see.

“Habibullah Adam Al-Ilory, in his desire to create disunity among us, claimed that Alfa Alabi Onikijipa is the original Onikijipa. If we had not heard this ourselves, we would not have believed it to be coming from a man who is expected to know better. But it is not surprising; that is his way. He attacks without a reason. He comes up with all sorts of theories just to prove anything! There are instances out there. But this is our story; Alfa Alabi Onikijipa and Alfa Faruq Onikijipa are brothers and one family. There is no separation among us. It is even more worrisome that such a respected scholar is using the “show me your father’s grave” theory as proof of originality. Pathetic!” the statement read.