Osun Muslims reject ‘imposition’ of clerics on central mosque

A mammoth crowd of Muslim faithful on Wednesday thronged to the streets of Iwo community in Osun State to protest the imposition of clerics to run the affairs of Central Mosque.

They marched from different parts of the community and converged on the central mosque via the Iwo Palace.

The crowd grounded vehicular movement in objection to the imposition of some clerics on the Central Mosque.

The protest was led by the leader of Muslims, Iwo Land, Alhaji Liadi Tela.

He was accompanied by the Chief Imam, AbdulFatai Olododo, Sheihk Hashim Ejalonibu, Sheihk AbdulMumeen Akinlewa, Sheihk AbdulMutalib Akinlade and Sheihk Mahbub Adedimeji.

The protesters bore placards with several inscriptions.

Some of the placards read: “Ogundokun is not Iwo central mosque BOT Chairman”, “Ogundokun risk contempt of court”, “Oluwo is the BOT chairman of Iwo Central mosque”, “No judgment empowers Ogundokun to appoint officers for Central mosque,” “Court never appoint Alhaji Adio as cleric in-charge of Central Mosque,” and others.

Tela said: “The attention of the generality of Muslims of Iwo, Osun State, Nigeria has been drawn to some announcements making the rounds and credited to Chief Abiola Ogundokun, which purport to fill some non-existent vacancies in the Iwo Central Mosque, including stating the hierarchy of such positions.

“Chief Abiola Ogundokun does not possess any power to appoint anyone as a holder of any office in the Iwo Central Mosque. The roles of the Board of Trustees for the Mosque are spelt out in the registered Constitution of the Iwo Central Mosque.

“Such roles do not include the power to appoint anyone as a holder of any office in the Iwo Central Mosque. We must not fight ourselves. I spoke with the governor and he said we should maintain peace with each other.

“Let us continue to plead and pray to God. He is all supreme God who has the judgment of all the earth in his hands,” he said.

Alhaji Imran Adio, when contacted on the matter, said he was duly appointed by Chief Abiola Ogundokun, the Chairman of Board of Trustees, Iwo Central Mosque, with a signed letter.

(The Nation)