This incident is the latest in a series of disagreements between the two leaders over the past few months.
The Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Afolabi Ghandi Olaoye, has formally queried the Chief Imam of Ogbomoso, Sheikh Taliat Yunus Olusina Ayilara, for failing to notify him before embarking on the recent Hajj pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia.
This incident is the latest in a series of disagreements between the two leaders over the past few months.
The Soun has taken exception to the Chief Imam's decision to participate in the 1445 Hajj exercise without prior notification, further straining their already tense relationship.
A query dated June 10, 2024, from the Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Afolabi Ghandi Olaoye, expressed disappointment and concern over the Chief Imam's breach of a pre-existing agreement. The agreement, signed before Sheikh Ayilara's appointment, required him to notify the Soun before leaving Ogbomoso for any purpose, including religious duties like the Hajj pilgrimage. The query, signed by the palace Secretary, Toyin Ajamu, also highlighted that the Chief Imam unilaterally appointed an acting Chief Imam during his absence, further violating the terms of the agreement and exacerbating the situation.
In response to inquiries, the Chief Imam confirmed the receipt of the query and acknowledged previous similar instances to Daily Post.
The query reads in part, “I refer to the earlier query issued to you with regards to your unbecoming and reprehensible conducts as Chief Imam Agba of Ogbomosoland and the need to desist from such conducts.
“You will recall that on your appointment as Chief Imam Agba of Ogbomosoland you signed an undertaking and agreement which you agreed will be binding on you.
“In the said undertaking, you unequivocally undertook to inform the Soun of Ogbomoso before traveling outside Ogbomoso.
“However, we have been informed that you are currently in Mecca on a Holy pilgrimage without notifying the Soun. This is a clear violation of your undertaking.
“Secondly, you agreed not to appoint any surrogate during your tenure without the approval of His Royal Majesty, Soun of Ogbomoso.”
Confirming the receipt of the query to Daily Post, the Imam said the monarch had “issued some queries to me in the past”.
“I will send you the documents. This time, he issued the query to me that I didn’t inform him before going to Saudi Arabia,” he added.
The ongoing feud between the Soun of Ogbomoso and Chief Imam Sheikh Ayilara has its roots in a legal dispute that began when Ayilara sued the monarch and the Soun In-Council to challenge their attempts to remove him from his position as Grand Chief Imam.
Ayilara, who was installed in November 2021 under the previous Soun, claims his appointment was legitimate and in accordance with Islamic principles, having been sanctioned by the Surah committee of Ogbomoso's Muslim community.
However, the dispute escalated after the new Soun's ascension to the throne in September 2023, who contested Ayilara's continued tenure as Chief Imam.
Ayilara's legal action, filed at the Oyo State High Court, aims to secure his position and highlights a significant conflict between religious independence and traditional authority in Ogbomoso.
Through his lawsuit, Ayilara emphasises the need for adherence to Islamic principles in the appointment of Imams and seeks judicial intervention to safeguard against what he considers an unlawful attempt by the Soun and his council to remove him from office, underscoring the importance of upholding religious autonomy in the face of traditional authority.