Who is Causing crises of Imam Leadership in Ebira Land

On the Current Crises of Imamship of Ebiraland, Kogi State

If only we're all enlightened, we should simply take & read the highly professional published work of Prof Ahmed Rufai Mohammed of BUK. He authored this work several years ago (more than 2 decades). Titled, “Crises Over Central Imamship of Ebiraland 1956- 1967” in ODU A Journal of West African Studies No31, January 1987, the erudite Professor gave the detail processes of how the late chief Imam became the central masjid imam. He never contested for it. It was given to him on trust. The contest was between Sheikh Ahmadu Rufai and Alh Abdulrahim Tajudeen. Though the panel of Sheikh Abubakar Gumi & Sheikh Haliru Binji found Sheikh Rufai as more qualified but lacked broad acceptability because his blood brother was already the Ohinoyi (the blessed & well respected memory of HRH Alh Sani Omolori) and his Uncle the Sarkin Kuti (Ohindase Okegwen) as the report which can be retrieved in National Archives, Kaduna pointed out. It was Sheikh Ahmadu Rufai who nominated Imam Musa Galadima as the Ebira were desirous to have an indigenous Imam.  

Again, if we go into early history, Sayyidna Abubakar ascended the Imamship of Masjid Nabiyy without contesting or examination with either Sayyidna Umar, Usman or Aliyu (RA). So, examination or test whatever it’s worth is not the standard and norm especially where there’s consensus of the majority of worshippers. In Ebira case, the Ohinoyi whose duty as enshrined in the Northern Nigeria Customary laws is to appoint Imam has appointed Sheikh Salihu Muhammad Abere based on advise of the Ulama of Ebira, so who’s creating crises? In addition, Salihu Abere has been 2nd in Command in the Central Masjid for almost for more than 10years and has acted several times for the late Imam, so why & where is,  the  controversy? 

Meanwhile in the current crises in Ebiraland, who’s vying with Sheikh Salihu Abere? Who’s the person? Sheikh Luqman has said he’s not interested and his senior brother, the erudite scholar Sheikh Abdulhamid Imam came out publicly to endorse Sheikh Salihu and has said no one in their family is interested in the position. Beyond these, Salihu Muhammad Abere is eminently qualify to lead. He’s a graduate of MARQAS LOKOJA & an Arabic diploma graduate of  ABU ZARIA. 

So, who're those sponsoring the thugs to destabilize Ebiraland after the relative peace?  How does invading Jumaat Masjid by thugs during the sacred month of Ramadhan solve the problem of ‘examination’ for central Imamship. Imam post has never been given to the most knowledgeable (how does one even know he’s the most knowledgeable in the light of Qur’an, Hadith & Seerah) but a person who has at least the minimum requirements but MOST acceptable to the citizens

Unfortunately, true or false, certain individual in the government cycle is figured to have been encouraging this violence; providing weapons and providing security cover for the thugs. Infact, in the last Friday crises, the same person is alleged to have directed security to release those arrested with weapons. It’s sad. The state Govt MUST stop provoking family against the other & must also stop creating problem between Tijaniyyun & Izala by doing the right thing. Whatever the case, criminals are catching on the refusal of the govt to turban Imam Salihu to foment trouble & torture the people of Ebira 

The way forward is for the Governor to go ahead to turban Sheikh Salihu Muhammad Abere as the Imam. This is important for so many reasons; he’s the choice of the majority of Ebira, he has been deputy Imam No1 for several years who has also acted severally in the absence of the late Imam, no one has openly come out to say he wants to be imam. More importantly, the same state govt that has obstructed this plan of turbaning for long, should go ahead to do the needful. It is only in going ahead to officially turban him can the govt of Gov Yahaya Bello come out clean. 

May Allah bless Ebiraland!

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