The leadership of Muslims across Osogbo, the capital of Osun State, has faulted the appointment of Alhaji Muniru Adebayo Raji as the Asiwaju Musulumi of Osogboland by the Chief Imam of Osogbo, Sheik Musa Animasahun.
Addressing journalists in Osogbo on Wednesday, the head of Alasaro Osogbo, Sheik Sulaiman Ajao Akala, insisted that the unilateral decision of the chief Imam is not only disappointing to the whole Muslim Community but an attempt to create avoidable religious crises in an otherwise peaceful Osogbo Muslim community.
He contended that Sheik Musa Animasahun’s ascendency to the position of the chief Imam of Osogboland is one of the proofs of the existence of a set of principles expressing shock at how he suddenly shunned all Islamic values and norms in his desperate quest to promote a particular individual for reasons best known to him.
“In appointing leaders in Islam, knowledge, impact, character, manner and pedigree of people is among the critical factors to be considered. Thus, the alleged appointment of Alhaji Muniru Adebayo Raji as the Asiwaju Musulumi of Osogboland is not only unacceptable but also very much demeaning to the collective religious sensibilities of the Muslim Ummah.
“It is on record that Alhaji Muniru Adebayo Raji, on 28th June, 2023, allegedly played a role in a crisis at the Osogbo Eid Ground. He was also reported to have employed so many divisive statements during the last political campaigns that were considered by the public incompatible with the calibre of people who may hold such a sacred religious position in society.
“The Muslim Ummah in Osogbo is a congregation of all the Muslims and not a personal property of any individual; therefore, the decision to appoint a leader for such a community must always be acceptable to all”, Akala insisted.
