Chief Imam Selection: Inisa town deserves the best
On behalf of the generality of the Muslim Ummah of Inisa origin from across the globe, this latest step is imperative in furtherance of the struggle to ensure that the path of decency is towed in the selection of a Chief Imam for Inisa, significantly in line with the dictates of the Holy Qur’an, Hadith and Sunnah, this step is imperative.
Inisa community is a town in Odo-Otin Local Government Area of Osun State, Nigeria. Contrary to the load of misinformation about our community in the wake of the needless crisis that engulfed our community regarding the enthronement of Chief Iman, Inisa is a community of noble and dignified people. It is on record that our Kabiyesi, Oba Joseph Oyedele, Fasikun II is one of the first three university graduates that became Kings in their domains in the old Oyo State.
Similarly, we have had the privilege producing Chief Imams that were very knowledgeable, exposed and highly respected among their peers. We are blessed with world acclaimed scholars and administrators. We are neither fetish nor diabolical as had been portrayed in certain quarters arising from some happenings within the Inisa Muslim Ummah in the last three and a half years which have been stultifying progress in the Ummah and indeed, our community.
Permit me to offer some information about Inisa Muslim Elites Association. IMEA evolved from the initial association named the Inisa Literate Muslim Union (ILMU). The name was changed at the point of registration to its present name. The group comprises Muslim Elite from Inisa in Odo Otin South LCDA of Osun State, Nigeria. Membership is open to all educated sons of Inisa with collective aim of harnessing opportunities for advancement of the Muslim Community in particular and the entire town in general.
IMEA’s Vision is to create an Influential, Prosperous, and Enlightened Muslim Ummah. The mission of IMEA is to build a cohesive and development-oriented Muslim Ummah with strong political, economic and social influence within Inisa and the State of Osun at large. Our core values are the guiding principles used to judge the association’s policies and actions, as well as individual conduct. They are succinctly captured by the acronym CALF, which has its source from one of the most significant verses of the Glorious Qu’ran. This serves as a continuous reminder to all members:
We shall be our brothers’ and sisters’ keeper by protecting their interests even behind their back. We shall seek for personal and collective advancement and continuously improve our methods of engagement in line with the dynamic environment. We shall imbibe the spirit of leadership by seeking to excel in all we do and providing right guidance and perspective on issues based on sound Islamic ethics. The IMEA shall remain unwavering in our reliance on Almighty Allah in the pursuit of our goals, which are guided by Islamic fiqh.
Meanwhile, the events of the last three and half years since the natural passing on of Sheikh Surakat Asiyanbi the Chief Imam of Inisa; the passing on of his successor, Sheikh Quasim Adebisi, and that of Sheikh Mustafa Baruwa, the Naibul Imam are all too well known, and may not require reiteration in this text. Suffice to say that but for the intervention of some notable Muslims in Inisa (Alhaji Shuab Afolabi Oyedokun, Alhaji Ganiyu Adepoju, the Aare Musulumi of Inisa; Gazal Adeyemo, Labo Popoola, Tajudeen Faniran and Remi Bello and several others), those who are now desperately jostling to take over the leadership of the Central Mosque had been compromised to subvert the ascension of Sheikh Quasim Adebisi to the Chief Imamship of Inisa after the death of Imam Surakat Asiyanbi.
Our position after the passing on of Sheikh Asiyanbi was that Sheikh Quasim Adebisi, having successfully acted during the about ten years of indisposition of the late Imam Asiyanbi, should seamlessly become the Chief Imam of Inisa. Significantly, Sheikh Adebisi was eminently qualified in all criteria for Chief Imamship (Scholarship, Exposure, Knowledge, Experience. Piety, age among others). We also admonished then, that all other positions be left for necessary consultations to enable the Inisa Muslim Ummah select some of the best among us to take charge of Islamic affairs in Inisa for the desired progress.
Events since the sad losses of our revered leaders have however, thrown these noble plans overboard, and have exposed the rot and the unIslamic tendencies among the “leadership” at the Inisa Central Mosque. These include loss of love, lack of trust, suspicion, and in-fighting. In their desperation, they labelled some of our notable and renowned clerics as “foreigners” in their own home town. We like to state clearly, Ladies and Gentlemen, that the Chief Imam of Inisa, is not just the leader of the Inisa Central Mosque, but the leader of all Muslims of Inisa extraction all over the world. That being so, he must be primus inter pares (the best/first among equals), and he can come from anywhere, so long as he is a Muslim, knowledgeable, exposed, pious, experienced and a native of Inisa.
Imamship is a huge responsibility and is also considered as a trust, so it requires a qualified person in terms of sound knowledge, life experience, wisdom, piety and good character to occupy it. Besides that, an Imam is expected to have a deep interest of his people in mind and be ready to serve them selflessly with all his ability without expecting any reward from them. It is also against Islamic tenets and unacceptable for a person with criminal and/or occultic tendencies and/or record to ascend the position of Imam.
It is on this premise that stakeholders, representing multitude of Muslims of Inisa origin around the world are insisting on the selection of the best person from among us to lead the Inisa Muslim Ummah. Historically, Inisa Ummah is noted to select the best among them to lead, and this could be seen in the ascendancy of the likes of Imams Asiyanbi I, Ibrahim Oyedokun, Adeyemo, Asiyanbi II and Adebisi. This is the standard which majority of Inisa Muslim Ummah worldwide seek to sustain.
This can only be achieved through a fair, transparent and decent process following the Sunnah of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (SAW) who said, and we quote: As regards appointing an Imam the Prophet (SAW) said: “Choose among you as an Imam, he who is the most knowledgeable in the Qur’anic sciences; if there are many with similar qualifications, then he who, in additional to that, excels in the knowledge of Hadith, if there are still many of them, then the most senior in age should be appointed.
Given the number of qualified scholars in Inisa, we are of the firm belief that Inisa should select from this pool without compromising on the standards established by the Holy Prophet (SAW) and his rightly guided successors. But a group within the Ummah in Inisa is insisting on a candidate that is not in any way amongst our community’s best. Significantly, that person has a criminal record which is already before the court of law. We also understand that the leadership of the Ummah in a particular town in the state is arrogating to itself, the authority to appoint an Imam for Inisa.
Constitutionally, no community is superior to the other. We must note also that, in the history of Islam in Inisa, never did any other community determine who the Chief Imam of our town should be, and a wrong precedence should not be established in this instance by omission or commission. To worsen the situation, that group in concert with the Naibul Imam of the said interloping community is conniving with some individuals in the Osun State government to impose that person with a criminal record, who is standing trial in the courts of law on multiple issues. They are also desperately trying to circumvent the judicial process.
We in Inisa, should not accept a fetish individual, a fraudulent person, and a public examination cheat (see attachments) to lead our Ummah.
We therefore, plead that people of goodwill should intervene to ensure a credible process to select the next Chief Imam of Inisa. If all internal mediation and conciliation fail, there is a Sharia Panel in Osun State that this matter may be referred to. We however, believe that we can peacefully resolve this matter without undue external interference of interlopers. We like to make it abundantly clear, that all we are asking for, is that the next Chief Imam for Inisaland and other related officers, SHOULD be appointed in the light of the Qur’an, the Hadith and the Sunnah of the Holy Prophet (SAW). That is all we are asking for, and not imposition, based on some dubious and perceived “popularity” among a few individuals around the Central Mosque.
This path will ensure that all qualified parties are given the opportunity to participate in a transparent selection process and that the eventual choice would be acceptable to the entire Inisa Muslim Ummah. It would also be keeping to our tradition of smooth and rancour-free transition between Imams. More importantly, it would ensure that the ascension to the Imamship of Inisa remains a solemn process-based affair. Inisa Muslim Ummah is capable of resolving its own issues for as long as unnecessary external interference and partisan politics are not allowed.
Our cause is not in support of any group in the contestation for Chief Imamship of Inisa. We are only concerned with the towing of the path of decency in line with the dictates of the Holy Qur’an, the Hadith and the Sunnah in the selection of a Chief Imam for our community; We like to make it clear, however, that we are eternally opposed to the imposition of a criminal as our chief Imam. Ilobu, Iwo, Ororuwo selected their Chief Imams, there was no interference and they chose amongst their best, both in Islamic and Western Education. For God’s sake, how can a public examination cheat be imposed on Inisa community as a Chief Imam when there are many worthy materials in the community?
It is unheard of that a secular government chooses for, or imposes a Chief Imam on a community. We are assuming that His Excellency, Governor Ademola Jackson Adeleke has not been availed of the facts in this matter, and, therefore, plead with him to allow this simple matter to be resolved without any political interference;
We are aware that this matter has been in court for about three years, for which reason, the court restrained parties in the civil suit from leading the congregation at the Central Mosque. That was why neutral Imams were chosen to lead the congregation.
Unfortunately, a party in the suit chased away three neutral Imans at different times. This same party infringed on the laws of our land by abusing the restraining injunction of the court of law by allowing Hakeem Jamiyu to assume leadership of the Central Mosque; We are equally disturbed that a suit was instituted by a lawyer to one of the parties calling the attention of the court to the breach of the court order and requesting for the committal of those who breached the laws of our land. Sadly, at the hearing of the suit on Wednesday 17 April, 2024, the culprits refused to make an appearance in court. Most sadly, the Judge did not take any action in defence of the laws of our land. Could this be a confirmation of the fears that some “powerful” persons are working hard to subvert justice?
In all of these, Inisa community is at the receiving end. Trust, love and unity are diminishing. The Central Mosque is virtually deserted, with no person of note praying behind the imposed Imam. We therefore, plead with the media to bring these sad occurrences to the attention of the powers that be, Muslim leaders in Nigeria and all people of goodwill to put a stop to, and urgently reverse this untoward trend. History is recording our individual and collective deeds, and we shall all give account here, and in the hereafter.
Adeyemo is the Chairman of Inisa Muslim Elites Association (IMEA)