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🇳🇬 Nigeria /Culture & Society

Awujale: Chief Imam mounts pressure on Abiodun over delay

From The Punch · (6m ago) English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • The Chief Imam of Ijebuland urged Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun to expedite the selection of a new Awujale, a traditional monarch, before the Eid-el-Kabir festival.
  • The appeal follows a similar call from the Fusengbuwa Ruling House, whose selection process was halted by the state government in January.
  • The Chief Imam emphasized the cultural and religious significance of the Awujale to Ijebuland, particularly during the Eid festival, and appealed to the governor to resolve the lingering issues.

The Chief Imam of Ijebuland, Sheikh Muftaudeen Ayanbadejo, has voiced the deep concern of the Ijebu people regarding the prolonged delay in installing a new Awujale. Speaking at a send-off ceremony for Hajj pilgrims, he directly appealed to Governor Dapo Abiodun to intervene and ensure the monarch is installed before the upcoming Eid-el-Kabir festival. This is not merely a matter of tradition; the absence of a monarch, especially during such an important religious celebration, disrupts the cultural and spiritual fabric of Ijebuland.

Your Excellency, I want to say that with this magnificent airport that you have built, which is now making it possible for the Hajj pilgrims to be airlifted from Ogun State to Saudi Arabia, rather than going to Lagos with all the stress and sometimes flight delays and diversion, you have certainly written your name in gold and we shall always be ever grateful to you.

— Sheikh Muftaudeen AyanbadejoThe Chief Imam of Ijebuland praised Governor Abiodun's infrastructure development, specifically the new airport, before making his appeal regarding the Awujale selection.

The Imam's plea, made in the name of Allah and invoking the respect due to traditional rulers across the region, underscores the urgency. He acknowledged the governor's recent achievements, such as the new international airport, but stressed that resolving the Awujale selection is a critical duty that would cement his legacy. The kingmakers have completed their tasks, and any perceived issues should be forgiven and set aside for the greater good of the people.

However, Mr Governor, I am using the names of all our royal fathers, the Alake and paramount ruler of Egbaland, the Akarigbo and paramount ruler of Remoland and the Olu of Ilaro and paramount ruler of Yewa land to beg you that the Muslim festival, Ileya (Eid-el-Kabir), is just a few days away, yet Ijebuland has yet to have a new Awujale.

— Sheikh Muftaudeen AyanbadejoThe Chief Imam invoked the names of other respected traditional rulers while urging the governor to prioritize the installation of the new Awujale before the Eid festival.

From our perspective here in Ijebuland, this delay is more than just an administrative hiccup. The Awujale is the spiritual and cultural anchor of our people. While international news might focus on national politics or economic developments, the installation of a monarch is a matter of profound local significance. The governor's swift action would demonstrate respect for our heritage and ensure that this vital tradition is honored during a time of communal celebration. We trust that Governor Abiodun, who showed respect to the late Awujale, will extend that same honor by facilitating the installation of his successor before Ileya.

In Ijebuland, Eid-el-Kabir is about the most important festival that we celebrate, and this is the reason why just two weeks after we celebrated one festival, we would have started saving funds for the next year.

— Sheikh Muftaudeen AyanbadejoThe Chief Imam explained the deep cultural and religious significance of the Eid festival to the people of Ijebuland.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Punch. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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