Why Ikare Muslims sacked Chief Imam

More details have emerged on why the Ikare Muslim Council moved against the Chief Imam of Ikare Central Mosque, Sheikh Abubakar Muhammed Abbas.

Sheikh Abbas appointed in 1995 was sacked by the ICM at its meeting on October 9th, 2022.

Despite his sack, Shiekh Abbas led jumat service last Friday under heavy security.

Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, on Monday, shut the Ikare Central Mosque to avert bloodshed.

Akeredolu, who spoke through his Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mrs Bamidele Ademola-Olateju, said: “We know there are disturbances around the Central Mosque in Ikare-Akoko. The council decided that the Ikare Mosque should be closed down with immediate effect.

“There would be no prayer offered in that mosque until there is a resolution to the issue and the government would be inviting the parties involved in the dispute as well as the league of Imams to resolve the issue at stake.”

It was gathered that the Ikare Muslims moved against Shiekh Abbas over the recognition of Oba Adeleke Adegbite-Adedoyin II, as Owa-Ale of Iyometa, Ikare.

The upgrading of Oba Adegbite -Adedoyin II did not go down well with subjects of the Olukare of Ikare, Oba Akadiri Saliu Momoh, who presides over the area where the Ikare Central Mosque is located.

Muslims faithful in Ikare were said to have kicked against the leadership of Shiekh Abbas as he hails from Iyometa Ikare.

Chairman of the Ikare Muslim Council, Adewale Jimoh, said the Olukare and all Chiefs in Ikare have given the nod for Shiekh Abbas to be sacked.

Adewale said: “The only thing we want is for the Chief Imam to go. He cannot continue to preside over here. He should go to Iyometa where the government has recognised an Oba. He cannot be loyal to two Obas.

“He was removed because Iyometa was carved out of Ikare. Shiekh Abbas belongs to Iyometa. He should go and pray over his people. We want to have our own Imam.”

Muslim Youths in Ikare, however, insisted that they would resist any attempt to force Shiekh Abbas out of the Ikare Central Mosque.

Chairman of Ikare Muslim Youth, Hon Adesina Hassan, said all Quarter Imams in Ikare were backing the Chief Imam.

Shiekh Abbas, in a phone chat, said he would wait on the directive of the state government before taking the next step.