MURIC to Alaafin: No Law Grants You Power to Appoint Chief Imam of Oyo
PRNigeria reports that the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has faulted a claim by the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Akeem Owoade, that he has the exclusive right to appoint the Chief Imam of Oyo town.
The Islamic rights organisation, in a statement signed by its Executive Director, Prof. Ishaq Akintola, described the monarch’s claim as “false, baseless and without legal backing.”
The statement was issued in response to remarks by the Alaafin, conveyed through his Director of Media and Publicity, Bode Durojaiye, asserting that the right to appoint a Chief Imam rests solely with the throne.
Rejecting the claim, MURIC argued that such assertions amount to an abuse of privilege by traditional rulers in Yorubaland. Prof. Akintola said: “What the Alaafin called his exclusive right is a baseless privilege now being abused by traditional rulers. We challenge him to produce any legal instrument that empowers him to appoint the Chief Imam of Oyo.”
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MURIC further questioned the logic of the monarch’s stance, asking whether the same authority extended to appointing Christian leaders. “If he has no power to appoint the bishop, he cannot claim power to appoint the Chief Imam. By law, Nigeria is a democracy, not a monarchy. Muslims are not slaves and they have the right to freely choose their leaders,” the statement added.
The organisation maintained that while the Alaafin may bless a candidate presented by the Muslim community, the decision on who leads Muslims in Oyo town rests squarely with the faithful themselves. It advised the Muslim Community of Oyo to consult with the Muslim Ummah of South West Nigeria (MUSWEN) and present a single candidate for confirmation to avoid manipulation.
MURIC also called on the monarch to respect the sensibilities of his Muslim subjects, warning against what it described as “over-bloated colonial mentality and feudal overlordship.”
The group concluded: “Kabiyesi, you are king over all—Muslims, Christians, and traditionalists. Each group chooses its own leader. No law gives you the right to appoint the Chief Imam. Respect begets respect.”
By PRNigeria
