The Muslim Community of Oyo State (MUSCOYS) has called on Governor Seyi Makinde to address two security threat issues brewing in the state.
The first is the ongoing faceoff between the Soun of Ogbomosoland, Ọba Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye and the Chief Imam of the town which has escalated in Ogbomoso and beyond over the last few months.
The second one is the issue of assault on the family of Sheikh Sulaiman and his wives by a group of ‘aggressors’ who came in Nigerian Army uniform.
In a statement jointly signed by its Chairman and the General Secretary, Alhaji Ishaq Kunle Sanni and Alhaji Murisiku Abidemi Siyanbade respectively, Oyo State Muslim Community called on Governor Seyi Makinde to take up the gauntlet, summon all parties to the feud, mediate, do the needful and enforce.
While acknowledging that there are cases in courts, notwithstanding, MUSCOYS said the government has a responsibility to ensure there is no breach of security, stressing that matters can be settled out of court.
“The Governor of Oyo State, H.E. Seyi Makinde, as the Chief Security Officer of the State should better take pro-active action now, to avert avoidable breach of security.
“The problem of Imamship in Ogbomoso, initially an Ayilara intra-family issue, has snowballed into a crisis now involving the Soun of Ogbomoso and even beyond Ogbomoso.
“The Muslim Community of Oyo State has made various unsuccessful efforts at mediation. In fact, another Elders’ Committee of the Muslim Community, led by Prof. D.O.S. Noibi also had many interactions with the two feuding camps and some Ogbomoso elites, who are interested parties in the matter. The last meeting of the warring groups took Prof.Noibi’s Elders Committee to Ogbomoso. More recently, Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland, Edo and Delta, Alhaji Dawud Makanjuola Akinola, also assembled many Muslim leaders and met with the two warring camps.
“All these efforts have yielded little fruits. Ogbomoso youths in support of the Imam, are restive; the other camp is also charging.
“The recent query issued to the Imam, Sheikh Dr. Taliat Yunus Ayilara while on Hajj in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, from where he has just returned, is another big straw further exacerbating the imbroglio.
“Efforts of all mediators have come to naught, because none of those who have put in efforts have power of enforcement. Only the Government can assert authority and enforce sanctions.
“As it is well known, the primary responsibility of Government is to ensure safety of lives and property. Maintenance of peaceful and harmonious coexistence is what is urgently required in the present circumstance.
“We hereby call on His Excellency, The Governor of Oyo State to take up the gauntlet, summon all parties to the feud, mediate, do the needful and enforce.” MUSCOYS stated.
Referring to the case of assault on a Muslim family in Iseyin where a pregnant woman in purdah suffered a broken leg, MUSCOYS said if not for its efforts in calming frayed nerves, restive Muslim youths would have taken to the streets over the matter.
MUSCOYS charged Oyo State Government to meddle and speak out, reassuring Muslims in Iseyin to remain calm. It added that Iseyin people needed to hear government assure them that justice would definitely be served.
“This is to further avoid a breach of the peace in Iseyin. The Pastor is boasting that nothing can happen to him, that he is well connected with the powers-that-be in Oyo State.
The statement partly reads:
“Then, there is the issue of assault on the family of Sheikh Sulaiman and his ‘Eleha’ wives by a group of aggressors who came in Nigerian Army uniform, led by, Damilola Stephen, the soldier-son of Sheikh Sulaiman Abdul-Azeez’s neighbour, Pastor Stephen Busari. The first wife of Sheikh Sulaiman Abdul-Azeez was bloodied, while the pregnant wife had a leg broken.
“The invasion took place on ‘Ileya’ day and if not for God, lives may have been lost.
“We are calming frayed nerves, otherwise, restive Muslim youths would have taken to the streets over the matter.
“Government needs to meddle and speak out, reassuring Muslims in Iseyin to remain calm. Iseyin people need to hear government assure them that justice will definitely be served. This is to further avoid a breach of the peace in Iseyin. The Pastor is boasting that nothing can happen to him, that he is well connected with the powers-that-be in Oyo State. Coincidentally, for over a week after the incident, the Pastor was walking freely as if nothing happened. However, he was eventually arrested and Alfa Sulaiman has hired a lawyer over the matter.
“In spite of this, the voice of H.E. The Governor needs to be heard on the incident, as the Chief Security Officer of the State.
“For emphasis, restive Muslim youths are still charged. To nip crisis in the bud, let the government speak out.
“Additionally, it needs be mentioned that, the beginning of the Iseyin crisis was noise disturbance by the church.
MUSCOYS also suggested that in order to avoid the recurrence of the Iseyin imbroglio, the Oyo State Government should activate the implementation of noise pollution law which has been passed in the state.
“Taking a cue from the Iseyin crisis and to avoid such occurrence in other places, we suggest that government needs to activate the Oyo State Law Against Pollution, for peaceful co-existence among adherents of different faiths. They should be made to come to the reality that, where their own right stops is where the rights of others begin.”