Documents obtained by The Eagle Online have revealed that the Chief Imam of Ogbomosoland in Oyo State, Sheikh Taliat Yunus Olusina Ayilara, actually signed away his freedom to the Soun of Ogbomosoland.
One of the documents obtained also showed that the Chief Imam was appointed under the authority of the Soun.
The documents, obtained by The Eagle Online on Wednesday, showed that Ayilara signed the documents appointing him and listing his dos and don’ts during the reign of the late Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Oladunni Oyewumi, Ajagungbade III.
Indeed, according to his letter of appointment, the title of the Chief Imam was conferred on Ayilara by the Soun.
A “Certificate of Conferment of Chieftaincy Title” dated November 19, 2021 signed by Oba Oyewumi and Sheikh Ayilara said the title of chief Imam was conferred on him with effect from November 19, 2021.
There is also another signed document by Ayilara on November 19, 2021, titled: “An undertaking and agreement that would bind me: Alhaji Taliat Yunus-Olusina Ayilara of Imam Ayilara’s Compound, Isale Afon, Ogbomoso, as Chief Imam Agba of Ogbomosoland.”
Also Read:
- I now know why Gov. Uba has been praising Tinubu — El-Rufai
- Surviving abroad marriage: My observations, by Tunde Asaju
- Why I dumped PDP – Nwoko; We won’t miss him — Commissioner
- Anambra: Three siblings killed, bodies dumped in deep freezer
- Telecom Tariff Hike: NLC suspends planned nationwide protest
Five demands were signed away on the document.
The undertaking said:
“1. I swear to be loyal and faithful to the cause of Islam in Ogbomosoland.
“2. I shall seek for religious peace and sincere cooperation among all religious bodies in Ogbomosoland.
“3. I shall not abandon my religious duties as Chief Imam Agba of Ogbomosoland unless in case of illness.
“4. I shall not appoint a surrogate to act for me while I make another journey to officiate in another place without an approved permission of His Royal Majesty, Soun of Ogbomosoland.
“5. I accept to be removed after three official warnings of breaking this agreement.”
Apart from Sheikh Ayilara, two other persons signed the document.
They were Abdul Raheem Fatai Ayilara and Ayilara Ishak M.
The documents were released to The Eagle Online following the face-off between the Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Afolabi Ghandi Olaoye, and Sheikh Ayilara.
Olaoye queried Ayilara for failing to notify him before embarking on a trip to Saudi Arabia for the ongoing Hajj.
In the query dated June 10, 2024, Oba Olaoye expressed disappointment and concern over the Chief Imam’s alleged breach of the pre-existing agreement.
The query, signed by the palace Secretary, Toyin Ajamu, also highlighted that the Chief Imam unilaterally appointed an acting Chief Imam during his absence, further violating the terms of the agreement and exacerbating the situation.
Reacting to the query, Sheikh Ayilara sued the monarch and the Soun-in-Council to challenge their attempts to remove him from his position as Grand Chief Imam.
Ayilara, who was installed in November 2021 under the previous Soun, claims his appointment was legitimate and in accordance with Islamic principles, having been sanctioned by the Surah committee of the Ogbomoso Muslim community.
However, the dispute escalated after the new Soun’s ascension to the throne in September 2023, who contested Ayilara’s continued tenure as Chief Imam.
Ayilara’s legal action, filed at the Oyo State High Court, aims to secure his position and highlights a significant conflict between religious independence and traditional authority in Ogbomoso.
The Chief Imam, through his lawsuit, stressed the need for adherence to Islamic principles in the appointment of Imams and sought judicial intervention to safeguard what he considers an unlawful attempt by the Soun and his council to remove him from office, underscoring the importance of upholding religious autonomy in the face of traditional authority.
Meanwhile, sources told The Eagle Online that the move to remove Ayilara was being aided by those seeking to replace him.
It was gathered that one of the positions being canvassed to convince Oba Olaoye to remove him was the fact that the Chief Imam did not support his candidacy for the seat of the Soun.
However, Ayilara, The Eagle Online was made to understand, has explained his dilemma during the selection process to the new monarch.
He was said to have told the monarch that he could not have backed him for the stool as a Christian when there were about 19 Muslims among the 21 candidates who wanted to emerge as the Soun of Ogbomosoland.
He was said to have subsequently pledged his support to Oba Olaoye.
As at press time on Thursday, The Eagle Online learnt that efforts were being made by several highly placed persons in the state to ensure the restoration of peace in the town over the face-off.
The latest, it was gathered, was by the Commissioner, Oyo State Police Command, CP Ayodele Sonubi, who met with both Oba Olaoye and Sheikh Ayilara.
CP Sonubi, The Eagle Online gathered, met with both parties on Wednesday in Ogbomoso.
Follow The Eagle Online Channel on WhatsApp
