The Grand Mufti of Yorubaland, Sheikh Abdulrasaz Abdulazeez Ishola, has said the new League of Imams and Alfas in Yorubaland, launched on Thursday, will introduce Boko Haram and Maitatsine in Southwest Nigeria.
Speaking with our correspondent, Ishola said the new establishment, which he condemned, should not be mistaken for the authentic League of Imams and Alfas in Yorubaland, which was established in 1964.
He said, “I just checked a Facebook page and saw it, which I may call impersonation. They impersonated the league established in 1964. We don’t expect such in Yorubaland at this time. We need to work hand in hand to achieve uniformity across Southwest Nigeria.”
He said the authentic League of Imams and Alfas consist of credible Imams who are actually the Chief Imams of the states across the Southwest.
“So, just imagine, two or three people said they launched a new league. On what basis? For what purpose? They even included Edo and Delta.
Are Edo and Delta part of Southwest Nigeria? Do they know what they are doing? They want to start another Boko Haram and Maitasine in Southwest Nigeria. That is a rebellious character.”
The Grand Mufti also had words to say concerning the rival league’s mission to align with Muslims of northern Nigeria.
“Is the existing League of Imams and Alfas fighting the North? No. If they are saying that, it means they have a hidden agenda. In 2017, we organised a seminar with the National Moonsighting Committee at our secretariat in Bodija. All the members of the committee came down from different parts of the country. I was one of the organisers. Are we fighting them? No. They just want to cause crisis in Yorubaland.
In northern Nigeria, they have Jamatu Nasril Islam. It is for the northerners. They established it in 1962, while our father established the League of Imams and Alfas in 1964, which actually started in 1962 but launched in 1964.”
Asked if he thinks the rival league members might not be of the Yoruba ethnicity, he said, “If they say they are Yoruba people, I don”t expect that kind of attitude and rebellious act.”
On the controversy surrounding the commencement and end of Ramadan fasting period, the Grand Mufti said everyone has their own criteria for determining the time to announce the period.
He stated that while the north relies on moon sighting, the League of Imams and Alfas of Yorubaland uses calculations.
“We in Yorubaland chose calculations because we see them as the most accurate method for determining the beginning and end of Ramadan. So, where is the fight?” he asked.
He added, “The league has declared February 18 as the start of Ramadan based on astronomic calculations. We were right last year, and we will always be right because the most accurate way to determine Ramadan in this 21st century is by calculations. The calculations made us know that nowhere in the world can claim sighting of the moon on the 17th of February. If we see anybody declare such, it is an error. It is a war waged on knowledge.”
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