A group of clerics from Inisa town in Osun State has advised the State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, to allow due process in the selection of the next Chief Imam of Inisa Central Mosque.
On Friday, December 1, 2023, Inisa Central Mosque reopened for Jumaat prayers after being locked for about five years, following disagreement among the congregation on the choice of a candidate that would fill the post of Chief Imam.
The tussle had polarised the congregation into two groups, with each backing different candidates.
Presenting updates on the issue to journalists in Osogbo on Thursday, the leader of the group, Abdulrasaq Amad, advised Adeleke to allow due process according to Islamic injunctions to prevail in the selection.
Amad, who said the tussle was already a subject of litigation before an Osun State High Court, lamented that the current industrial action by members of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria in the state, which has prevented the court from sitting since last November, was delaying the hearing of the case.
He said the appeal to Adeleke was a sequel to the decision of those acting on behalf of the governor to openly support one of the two groups involved in the tussle, insisting that the court should be allowed to adjudicate on the matter.
He added, “Setting the records straight, the Central Mosque of Inisa was never closed down by the order of any court, rather the court gave an order restraining both parties from parading themselves as Chief Imam of Inisa or performing any duty or function of chief Imam of Inisa pending the determination of the case.
“We want to call on the governor to please stay away from this matter, and allow Inisha indigenes home and abroad who have vast knowledge on how a Chief Imam is being selected, to carry out the process.
“We also urge the Olunisa of Inisa, Oba Joseph Oyedele, all the chiefs to please stay away from the Chief Imam selection process and allow due Islamic process be followed.
“We want due process like screening, qualities, exams among others Islamic process of selecting Imam be carried out.”
When contacted for reaction, Osun State Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Mr. Kolapo Alimi, absolved Adeleke of any wrongdoing.
He said government intervention was to prevent a breakdown of law and order, noting that clerics across the county called on the governor to intervene.
Alimi, who urged anyone dissatisfied with the intervention to be patient, said what Adeleke did regarding the disagreement would not in any way affect the pending case.
