Soun installs New Chief Imam of palace Mosque

The Soun of Ogbomoso land, Oba Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye, has installed Habib Ahmed Adekunle Ayilara as the Chief Imam of the mosque located within the Soun’s palace.

This installation places Ayilara in charge of the palace mosque.

Clarifying the situation, a source close to the palace emphasized that this installation does not affect the position of Sheikh Teliat Yunus Olusina Ayilara, the Chief Imam of Ogbomoso land, whose status remains unchanged pending the outcome of an ongoing court case.

During the installation of the Chief Imam of the palace mosque, Oba Ghandi noted, “This afternoon, I was deeply honoured by the Ogbomoso Muslim community, who graciously organized a special prayer in celebration of my 63rd birthday.”

“I have the distinct honour of conferring the esteemed title of the Imam of Soun’s Palace on Habib Ahmed Adekunle, Omo Abdul Wahab, Omo Imam Mahamud Ayilara.

The Palace of Soun requires an Imam who will not only lead prayers within the palace but also represent me in religious matters concerning the Muslim community both within our town and beyond.”

Warning those who are giving religious colouration to the issue, Oba Ghandi said, “The throne is that of the traditionalists. Soun Ogunlola who founded the throne was a pure traditionalist; he worshiped the Ogun deity. We Christians and Muslims are just intruding so to say, it originally belonged to the traditional religion worshipers so we should encourage religious harmony. It neither belongs to either of us Christians nor Muslims, they are only lending us the throne.”

“Let me clear this the event of today is not the bus stop, we are yet to reach our destination, the bus only stopped to pick up someone. I have refused to remove him (the incumbent Chief Imam Teliat) despite him taking me to court. But I told him you can’t take me to court and be leading me in prayer, we don’t go to court and become friends. You that took me to court your intention is to win, to win against the Oba, and you call yourself an indigene of this town. Such prayer can’t be answered I believe. I am a pastor, if I take my member to court will I lead in prayer and such member will say amen?”

“Today’s event marks my birthday. It is historical. The person we installed today conducted thorough research, we don’t want to make such a mistake again. I have been an alfa (pastor) for 32 years, I believe Imam Teliat was still wearing pants then. That is the truth. And as Christians we don’t mount the pulpit to abuse a king, l don’t know your religion much but in Christendom, we don’t do that, although some pastors say nonsense too.

Reacting to the installation of the Imam, Mr Hassan Ayilara who is from the family told Sunday Vanguard, “This is the man who has blood affinity with us in Ayilara family. He is the one who we, Ayilara family overwhelmingly approved as the Chief Imam of Ogbomoso. We don’t know the other person claiming the position”.

The new Chief Imam was turbaned in the presence of a large population of Muslims in the community including the Parakoyi of Ogbomosoland Alhaji Sirajudeen Aleem, Senator Fatai Buhari (represented by Alhaji Yekinni Woleola).

Alhaji Aleem said,“He will be the Imam of the palace, the Imam of the Oba, we are not acting in contempt of the court because the matter is in court, it is the court that will tell us if Imam Teliat is Imam Ogbomoso or not. We are not removing him (Alhaji Teliat) as Chief Imam Ogbomoso, he is still, because the matter is in court, but the Imam of the Soun is the one we are turbaning today. Listen to me, he is imam of the palace, of all the Soun Royal Houses,”.