The Mogajis of the five ruling houses of the Imperial Dynasty of Soun including Aburumaku, Gbagun, Laoye, Bolanta and Odunaro, have warned the Chief Imam of Ogbomoso, Imam Teliat Yunus Ayilara, to desist from further hurling invectives on the Soun of Ogbomosoland, Kabiyesi Alayeluwa, Oba Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye Orumogege III.
They practically described such act as desecration to the exalted throne of the Soun and, by extension, the people of Ogbomoso, adding that they take exception to the misdemeanour.
Addressing a press conference on Wednesday, at the Ogbomoso Palace, they warned the Chief Imam and his cohorts to desist, restating that any act of illegality from him would no longer be condoned.
Similarly, the Mogajis unanimously reaffirmed that the Ogbomoso Central Mosque remains the property of Soun of Ogbomosoland, expressing disapproval to the impudent acts of the Chief Imam.
They maintained that Soun stool has nothing to do with Christianity or Islam but an institution that transcends religion and deserves respect, describing the court cases instituted against the Soun and the Soun-in-Council as absurdity.
The text of the press conference signed by the Mogajis including Prince Lamidi Itabiyi, Prince Sikiru Oyelami, Prince Olawole Olaoye, Prince Oyebamiji Oyedeji, and Prince Ilufoye Olayode read, “We are constrained to create this forum in order to address an issue of public importance. It is the grave matter of the Chief Imam of Ogbomoso, which has become festering and has polarized the Muslim community and indeed the whole community.
“Initially, we took it with a pinch of salt that it will fizzle out naturally on the basis that it is a religious matter expected to have the fear of God. We are bewildered and alarmed by the lies being peddled by the Chief Imam on the matter and more importantly, his dragging the Soun, Alayeluwa Oba Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye Orumogege III, the Soun of Ogbomosoland, into the matter and abusing the Kabiyesi. This, we take exception to.
“Our purpose this afternoon is to correct the wrong impression being peddled and to warn the Chief Imam to desist from further hurling invectives on the Kabiyesi. By abusing the Oba, he is desecrating the exalted throne of Soun and by extension the people of Ogbomoso.
“What is the genesis of the problem? The Imam Ayilara family alleged he is not a bonafide member of the family and the Kabiyesi set up different panels to look into it. The recommendation of the different panels is that he steps aside while he sorts out the matter with the family.
“The Kabiyesi refuses to implement the recommendation after some eminent personalities including Senator Ayo Adeseun and Dr. Saka Balogun, appealed on his behalf that they should be given seven days (which took effect from October 23rd,2023) to make amends. But up till date they never returned.
“However, instead of the matter to fade away, it is being exacerbated by the Chief Imam himself, as he refuses to toe the path of peace. Rather, he is promoting lies and more dastardly, he is abusing the Kabiyesi. Not only that, he instituted court cases against the Soun and the Soun-in-Council. This has never happened in the history of Ogbomoso that a Chief Imam will sue Soun to court.
“His insults against the Kabiyesi are infuriating. We condemn and denounce his impudence and actions. He is warned to stop talking about the Soun; he should sort out his problem with his family as it has nothing to do with our revered Kabiyesi. He should never mention Soun’s name in the imbroglio again because his utterances are distracting and creating disaffection. Moreover, all the recent appointments he made are null and void, because he never obtained the approval of the Soun in accordance with custom and tradition.
“For him to have taken Soun to court is sacrilegious! How can you sue someone who installed you? Soun stool has nothing to do with whether you are a Christian or Muslim; it is an institution that transcends such absurdity.
“Finally, we reaffirm the Ogbomoso Central Mosque is the property of Soun, it belongs to the King. We reiterate the Soun ruling houses express disapproval to the impudent acts of the Chief Imam, which is a defilement of the sanctity of the throne of our forefathers.
“However, we are constricted by the court cases and we await their verdicts. In the interim, we refuse to be distracted or be drawn into the shenanigans of the Imam and his cohorts, we restate we will not take such from him again.
“We convey our gratitude to you for patience.”
