The Muslim Ummah of South West Nigeria (MUSWEN) says it has counselled everyone involved in the dispute over who should become the new Imam of Inisha, Osun State, to pull out of the courts and settle the matter according to Sharia principles.
The organisation's President, Alhaji Rasaki Oladejo, spoke on Thursday in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, at a press conference ahead of MUSWEN's 11th General Assembly. He was flanked by other leaders of the group. Oladejo is also Deputy President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), according to the report by Daily Post Nigeria.
Disputes in three states
Oladejo said the group's mediation and reconciliation committee stepped into disputes in Osun, Ondo and Lagos states. On Inisha, he said:
"In Inisha, Osun State, stakeholders were advised to withdraw court cases and resolve the Imamship matter in accordance with Sharia principles."
The sources do not say who the parties in the Inisha case are, which courts are involved, or whether the stakeholders have accepted the advice.
Ikare-Akoko mosque and Lagos Central Mosque
In Ikare-Akoko, Ondo State, Oladejo said the committee engaged parties over a long-running crisis at the Central Mosque. He said the Ondo State Government later directed that the mosque be reopened after it had been shut for over three years, and he praised Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa for the move. He added that similar counsel was offered over the Lagos Central Mosque, without giving details.
The report also says the organisation's decision led the Ondo government to order the reopening. That link is the group's own account and has not been independently confirmed.
Message on the 2027 elections
Oladejo also urged Nigerians to vote according to conscience in the 2027 general elections, saying the choices made will shape the country's future. Speaking to Muslims in the South West, he said:
"As we approach the 2027 general elections, I urge Muslims in the South West to participate actively and vote in large numbers for candidates who fear Allah and will govern with fairness, justice and compassion."
He added: "Leadership is a sacred trust. The choices we make will shape the future of our communities and our nation".
