Tensions have pervaded residents of Ikirun, headquarter of Ifelodun local government area of Osun state has two persons fight over Imamship position of Amola Central Mosque in the town.
The crisis, it was gathered, started after the installation of Alhaji Suleiman Tiamiyu to replace the late Imam Suleiman Adewale.
However, the refusal of Alhaji Tiamiyu to be ceremonially turbaned by the Chief Imam of Ikirun, Alhaji Yinus Balogun, led to his removal after three years as Imam of Amola Central Mosque, and was replaced by Alfa Muibi Arise.
It was gathered that Alhaji Tiamiyu who was said to have graduated in Arabic study in Saudi Arabia, refused to be turbaned because he could not be convinced that it is a must to be officially turbaned before one can lead prayer as Imam.
Apparently dissatisfied by his removal, he went to the Sharia panel in Osogbo, the state capital, where he was ordered to step aside alongside Arise who succeeded him.
An order of the Sharia panel received by our correspondent revealed that the duo of Tiamiyu and Arise were asked to let peace reign by stepping aside and allow the worshipers to choose another Imam.
The Certified True Copy of the ruling of the Sharia panel signed by the Chief Registrar, Imam Musa Raji, noted that the petitioner (Sulaeman Tiamiyu) refused to be turbaned and hold turbaning ceremony, hence his removal.
The panel stated that turban is a crown of the Arabs which is put on by the believers and non-believers among them, noting “Islam met the tradition and the believers put it on while it became accepted tradition which we do not find what debars it; hence its ruling is that it is allowed but has no any significance in the religion except as an honour for whoever puts it on.
“Turban and organising ceremony for it are not part of the conditions for Imamship, doing so does not also spoil it.
Nevertheless, it needs to be stressed here that turbaning is one of the tradition of the Muslims and it is not expected of anyone to reject it for his appointment as Imam,” the panel stated.
In the case of Muibi Arise, the panel observed that “he seems to lack virtues of leadership and his type is not expected to be a role model for others.
He was alleged to be morally bankrupt and was also alleged to be dubious through the means of jalabi.
The panel submitted that Islam does not recognize jalabi saying “what could be deduced from it is that it was meant for an act of fraudulent.
Citing quotations from the Holy Quran and Hadith, the panel said, “to return peace, harmony, unity and understanding to Oke-Amola Jamah in particular and Ikirun town in general, the only way is to step the two of them down in order to curb segregation and breakup.
However, it was gathered that Arise has refused to step down as he continue to lead the congregation by force. It was gathered that he has the support of Chief Imam of the town.
When contacted on telephone, the Chief Imam, Alhaji Yinus Balogun, said the only recognised Imam of Oke-Amola Mosque is Arise.
When asked if he was aware of the ruling of Sharia panel, he said “those people are saying rubbish.
A Muslim cleric and community leader in Ikirun, who spoke with our correspondent beside the Mosque, Alhaji Liadi Adewale, called on security operatives to wade into the matter before it led to chaos.
The community leader who said he came from the North for Salah, hinted that information available at his disposal is that plans are afoot to remove Alfa Arise by force since he refused to comply with the order of the Sharia panel. He said the action may lead to violence.
“I want to return to the North where I came from, but I don’t want the issue to remain unresolved because the peace of my town is paramount to me. Also, I have families in the town many of who live close to the Mosque.
Another worshiper who does not want to named in print, said the issue has been reported at the police headquarter by concerned worshippers.
He said the matter has already splits the congregation as some people loyal to Alhaji Tiamiyu have refused to pray behind Arise and also planning to remove him by force.
A copy of the letter showed that it was received by the police headquarter, Osogbo, on August 9, 2019. Though, it was gathered that non of the parties has been invited.
