The five ruling houses of the Imperial Dynasty of Soun, namely the Aburumaku, Gbagun, Laoye, Bolanta, and Odunaro families, have warned the Chief Imam of Ogbomoso, Imam Teliat Yunus Olushina Ayilara to stop abusing the Soun of Ogbomoso.
The families made this known while addressing a press conference on Wednesday, May 22, 2024, at the Ogbomoso Palace.
The family heads, known as Mogajis, expressed their disappointment and alarm at the Chief Imam’s actions, which they believe have polarized the Muslim community and the entire city of Ogbomoso.
They condemned the Chief Imam’s lies and his dragging of the Soun, Alayeluwa Oba Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye Orumogege III, into the matter, as well as his abuse of the Kabiyesi.
According to the Mogajis, the issue began when the Imam Ayilara family questioned the Chief Imam’s membership, leading the Kabiyesi to set up panels to investigate.
The panels recommended that the Chief Imam step aside while he resolves the matter with his family.
However, despite appeals from eminent personalities, the Chief Imam has refused to comply and has instead instituted court cases against the Soun and the Soun-in-Council.
The Mogajis denounced the Chief Imam’s actions as sacrilegious and warned him to stop talking about the Soun and to sort out his problem with his family.
They also declared that all recent appointments made by the Chief Imam are null and void, as they were not approved by the Soun in accordance with custom and tradition.
The Ogbomoso Central Mosque, they reaffirmed, is the property of the Soun and belongs to the King.
They expressed their disapproval of the Chief Imam’s impudent acts, which they believe defile the sanctity of the throne of their forefathers.
They reiterated that they will not be distracted or drawn into the Chief Imam’s actions and warned him not to mention the Soun’s name again.
They said: “The five ruling houses of the Imperial Dynasty of Soun are Aburumaku, Gbagun, Laoye, Bolanta and Odunaro, and we represent members of these ruling houses. We are constrained to create this forum in order to address an issue of public importance. It is the grave matter of the Chief Imam of Ogbomoso, which has become festering and has polarized the Muslim community and indeed the whole community.
“Initially, we took it with a pinch of salt that it will fizzle out naturally on the basis that it is a religious matter expected to have the fear of God. We are bewildered and alarmed by the lies being peddled by the Chief Imam on the matter and more importantly, his dragging the Soun, Alayeluwa Oba Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye Orumogege III, the Soun of Ogbomosoland, into the matter and abusing the Kabiyesi. This, we take exception to.
“Our purpose this afternoon is to correct the wrong impression being peddled and to warn the Chief Imam to desist from further hurling invectives on the Kabiyesi. By abusing the Oba he is desecrating the exalted throne of Soun and by extension the people of Ogbomoso.
“What is the genesis of the problem? The Imam Ayilara family alleged he is not a bonafide member of the family and the Kabiyesi set up different panels to look into it. The recommendation of the different panels is that he steps aside while he sorts out the matter with the family.
“The Kabiyesi refuses to implement the recommendation after some eminent personalities including Senator Ayo Adeseun and Dr. Saka Balogun, appealed on his behalf that they should be given seven days (which took effect from October 23rd,2023) to make amends. But up till date they never returned.
“However, instead of the matter to fade away, it is being exacerbated by the Chief Imam himself, as he refuses to toe the path of peace. Rather, he is promoting lies and more dastardly, he is abusing the Kabiyesi. Not only that, he instituted court cases against the Soun and the Soun-in-Council. This has never happened in the history of Ogbomoso that a Chief Imam will sue Soun to court.
“His insults against the Kabiyesi are infuriating. We condemn and denounce his impudence and actions. He is warned to stop talking about the Soun; he should sort out his problem with his family as it has nothing to do with our revered Kabiyesi. He should never mention Soun’s name in the imbroglio again because his utterances are distracting and creating disaffection. Moreover, all the recent appointments he made are null and void, because he never obtained the approval of the Soun in accordance with custom and tradition.
“For him to have taken Soun to court is sacrilegious! How can you sue someone who installed you? Soun stool has nothing to do with whether you are a Christian or Muslim; it is an institution that transcends such absurdity.
“Finally, we reaffirm the Ogbomoso Central Mosque is the property of Soun, it belongs to the King. We reiterate the Soun ruling houses express disapproval to the impudent acts of the Chief Imam, which is a defilement of the sanctity of the throne of our forefathers. However, we are constricted by the court cases and we await their verdicts. In the interim, we refuse to be distracted or be drawn into the shenanigans of the Imam and his cohorts, we restate we will not take such from him again.
“We convey our gratitude to you for patience.”
Present at the press conference were Prince Lamidi Itabiyi (Mogaji Aburumaku Ruling House), Prince Sikiru Oyelami (Mogaji Gbagun Ruling House), Prince Olawole Olaoye (Mogaji Laoye Ruling House), Prince Oyebamiji Oyedeji (Rep Bolanta Ruling House), and Prince Ilufoye Olayode (Mogaji Odunaro Ruling House).
