A collective of clerics hailing from Inisa town in Osun State has advised Governor Ademola Adeleke to respect due process in the selection of the next Chief Imam of Inisa Central Mosque. The mosque recently reopened for Jumaat prayers on December 1, 2023, after being closed for approximately five years due to disagreements within the congregation regarding the choice of a Chief Imam.
The dispute had divided the congregation into two factions, each supporting different candidates for the position. Abdulrasaq Amad, the leader of the cleric group, provided updates on the matter to journalists in Osogbo, emphasizing the importance of adhering to Islamic principles in the selection process. He revealed that the issue was already before an Osun State High Court, but the ongoing strike by members of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria had impeded the court proceedings since November.
Amad urged Governor Adeleke to refrain from interference and allow the court to adjudicate on the matter, pointing out that individuals acting on behalf of the governor had openly supported one of the groups involved in the dispute. He clarified that the mosque was never closed down by a court order but rather both parties were restrained from functioning as Chief Imam pending the resolution of the case.
The cleric stressed the need for due process, including screening, assessment of qualities, and examinations, in the Islamic tradition for selecting an Imam. He also called on the local monarch, Olunisa of Inisa, Oba Joseph Oyedele, and other chiefs to refrain from involvement and let the Islamic process unfold.
In response, the Osun State Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Mr. Kolapo Alimi, absolved Governor Adeleke of any wrongdoing. He explained that government intervention was aimed at preventing a breakdown of law and order, highlighting that clerics from across the country had requested the governor’s involvement. Alimi urged those dissatisfied with the intervention to be patient, assuring that Adeleke’s actions would not impact the ongoing court case.
