Hundreds of Muslim faithful on Friday thronged the Inisa central mosque in Odo-Otin local government area of Osun state to observe jummat prayer against death curse.
The mosque has been under lock and key since 2020, under the instruction of the then Osun State Government, Adegboyega Oyetola, following leadership crisis which led to the death of two persons, Imam and High Chief of the town. The crisis was said to have been caused by the choice of Chief Imam. It was gathered that while the Muslim followers were made clearly their choice, some interested leaders of the town were hell bent on having their way on who becomes the Chief Imam. The development pitched the Muslims and some leaders of the town against the other.
Efforts by the Osun Muslim Community to resolve the impasse proved abortive, as Chief Imams appointed from outside the town to lead prayers were threatened by the two-warring faction, hence, the mosque was deserted by faithful since 2020.
The development led to the appellation – ‘Kirun ko ku mosque’ (meaning pray and die) as the cleric that led the last jummat prayer therein three years ago died from a mysterious sickness.
However, a popular scholar from Ilorin, Kwara state, Uztas Hamad Labeeb started the advocacy for reopening the mosque and express readiness to lead jummat prayer in the mosque.
This make Muslims from across Osun and Kwara states to throng the mosque to participate in the jummat prayer which was the first in about three years.
Speaking with newsmen after the prayer which was led by a scholar from Oyan in the same local government, the Secretary, Association of Imams and Khatib in the state, Imam Abdullah Olorunlomerue said the Ummah is in the town to resolve all impasse negating unity in the mosque.
His words, “The Muslims in Inisa didn’t go to the central mosque for a certain reason and we are at the point of getting to the root of that matter. By the Grace of God, before next week Friday, the Chief Imam of Osogbo and the grand Imam of Osun State has promised to settle everything amicably”.
However, an Islamic group in the town, Inisa Muslim Elite Association, through its Chairman, Kasali Adeyemo, said it detested attempt to impose a person with questionable character on the community as Chief Imam and insisted on due process.
“The reason we kick against it was the attempt to impose a person of questionable character as the chief Imam in Inisha. The person in question has criminal case before the court which we kick against. We are demanding for due process for the selection of Imam”, he said.
