The Olugbon of Orile-Igbon, Oba Francis Alao, has thrown his weight behind the embattled Chief Imam of Ogbomoso, Yunus Ayilara.
He said traditional rulers lacked the power to sack religious leaders.
Soun of Ogbomoso Oba Ghandi Olaoye had last Friday appointed Ayilara as the Chief Imam for his palace, a move interpreted within the Muslim community in the town as a plot to replace Ayilara as the Chief Imam.
Read Also: Don’t arrest Ajaero, Oyo NLC warns police
The latter has been embroiled in a controversy with Oba Olaoye in recent times. The crisis has led to a legal suit being heard by an Oyo State High Court. The suit is seeking removal of Ayilara as the Chief Imam.
But the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) criticised Soun’s move, describing it as a “subterfuge to weaken Islam, a stratagem to enslave Muslims and a chicanery to exploit Muslim population of Ogbomoso.”
Oba Alao in a statement yesterday, however, urged MURIC to sheathe its sword, stressing that stakeholders in Ogbomoso would not allow anything that could divide Ogbomoso Muslim community.