Ripples In Osogbo Muslim Community Over Appointment Of Adeleke’s Aide As Asiwaju Musulumi

There is a division in the Osogbo Muslim Community over the appointment of as the Asiwaju Musulumi of Osogboland.

OSUN DEFENDER gathered that Raji’s appointment on Tuesday was greeted with mixed reactions, particularly from stakeholders in Osogbo.

Raji who is the Special Adviser to Governor Ademola Adeleke on Political Matters, was reportedly appointed in a letter signed by Chief Imam of Osogbo, Sheikh Musa Animashaun.

The letter of appointment was presented to Raji at his residence in Ido-Osun.

OSUN DEFENDER learnt that while some sections of the Muslim Community are in support of the appointment, others who do not back the move are reportedly in support of a political appointee with the Federal Government as the Asiwaju Musulumi of Osogbo.

Speaking with newsmen on Wednesday in Osogbo, the advisory body for Osogbo Central Mosque known as Alasaro of ‘Osogbo’, faulted the appointment of Alhaji Raji, adding that they were not consulted before the decision was taken.

The body which said it is the sole decision-maker when it comes to Islamic titles in Osogbo, also accused the palace of the Ataoja of Osogbo of meddling in the affairs of the Muslim community.

The head of the advisory body ‘Alasaro of Osogbo’, Sheik Sulaiman Ajao Akala, who condemned the appointment, said the body does not support it.

Sheikh Akala said Alhaji Raji is currently serving as Special Adviser to Governor Ademola Adeleke, adding that the title is not for someone holding a political office.

He said, “When I first heard that Alhaji Muniru Raji has been appointed as the Asiwaju Musulumi of Osogboland, I said it is not possible because he is a serving politician and the title is not for serving politicians.

“We went to the Chief Imam to express our grievances and he also told us that Alhaji Muniru Raji will not be appointed as the Asiwaju Musulumi of Osogboland.

“But yesterday, we heard that the Chief Imam has changed his words and appointed Alhaji Muniru Raji as Asiwaju Musulumi of Osogboland. We, the Alasaro’s, don’t know anything about it, and we do not support or approve the appointment”.

Corroborating Sheik Akala, the Jagunmolu of ‘Alasaro’, Alhaji Amitolu Shittu, said the Chief Imam cannot appoint anyone without the input of the body, calling on him to reverse the appointment.

Shittu, who said Osogbo has retrogressed due to the division created by some people in the town, added that the appointment of Alhaji Raji if allowed to stand, will further divide the community.

He also alleged that the division in the town is being fueled by the palace of Ataoja.

“Why do we have Aree Musulumi? Why do we have Giwa Adini? Why do we have Saraki Adini? You want to appoint somebody without their input. It is an aberration which cannot be allowed to stand,” he said.

He further added, “I am a chief in the Alasaro Osogbo. In as much as our leader and elders have denounced it and said they are not part of the process, we advise the Chief Imam, in order not to further the polarisation of our town, to desist from it and stay clear until approval is given by the Alasaro.

“If they try to do anything, we will make it impossible for them at all costs. We are telling them to stop it now. They cannot continue to divide this town because of their personal interest and money.

“Baba Chief Imam should remember that he did not put himself in that office and it was not the king that put him there. It is the Alasaro that put him there.

“They are trying to equate the Islamic position with that of the palace which is not the same. No Imam, assistant Imam, or even Mufasir can make a decision when it comes to Islamic affairs in Osogbo. Also, the palace cannot make a decision on the matter. The Palace has played a retrogressive role; we are being divided, and this must stop.”

Reacting to the advisory body’s position, Raji, said conferment of Islamic titles is a prerogative of the Chief Imam.

Alhaji Raji also accused the advisory body of doing the bidding of someone who wanted his son to be appointed as the Asiwaju Musulumi of Osogbo.

Alhaji Raji said the statement credited to the head of the advisory body that political office holders cannot be given Islamic titles was a lie, adding that the person the ‘Alasaro’ were rooting for is also a political appointee.

He, however, did not mention the name of the person.

Alhaji Raji also said the spokesperson of the advisory body was part of the delegation that brought the letter of appointment to him.

According to him, “Appointment of Islamic title holders in Osogboland is at the authority of Chief Imam of Osogboland and I know that before the Chief Imam appoints anyone, he will consult with the Alasaro and the Mogajis.

“The spokesperson for the ‘Alasaro’ was part of the delegation the Chief Imam sent to bring the letter to me which means that they were carried along.

“The only title the Alasaros have power over is a title within their body and not the Osogbo Muslim community title.

“I know for sure that for over 40 years, the Imam-in-Council is the one that appoints someone, and the decision will be communicated to the ‘Alasaro’. That is the way things are done in the past and it is the same way I was appointed and given a letter.

“The press conference organised by the Alasaro was funded by someone who wants his son to be appointed as the Asiwaju Musulumi of Osogbo.

“They should bring the law that states that a political office holder cannot be given an Islamic title. The person they want to use for their selfish interest, who the Imam-in-Council believes is not worth the title, is also a political appointee.”

When contacted, the Chief Imam of Osogbo, Sheikh Musa Animashaun, told OSUN DEFENDER that the advisory body ‘Alasaro’ cannot dictate who to confer an Islamic title on for him.

He said, “What members of the ‘Alasaro’ are saying is rubbish. The Chief Imam has the authority to confer Islamic title in Osogboland.

“When the various mosques and Islamic associations in Osogbo were giving titles to people, why did the Alasaro not go there to challenge them? The mosques and Islamic associations can confer title to anyone. They have that power,” Animashaun said.

Speaking with OSUN DEFENDER, Prince Jeleel Olawale, an aide to the Ataoja of Osogbo, Oba Jimoh Olanipekun, denied the involvement of the palace in the matter.

He said, “The palace stands on its own while the League of Imams stands on its own. So, what one of the chieftains of the ‘Alasaro’ said was an overstatement.

“Nobody has ever seen where the Ataoja of Osogbo mentioned or called somebody Asiwaju Musulumi of Osogboland. So what the Chieftain said was not correct.

“The palace is not intervening in the Muslim community affairs. The Chief Imam is the authority when it comes to that matter and the title we are talking about is not a traditional title. So, the Ataoja of Osogbo and the palace have nothing to do with it,” the palace aide noted.