A set of people who call themselves ‘Yoruba Muslims’ on social media have kicked against the appointment of Prince Abimbola Akeem Owoade as the new Alaafin of Oyo. Owoade’s appointment was announced last Friday and he is yet to receive his staff of office.
Trending under the hashtag #YorubaMuslims, the discussion has led to arguments and division on social media space.
In a long tweet by Muslim News Nigeria via its X handle @muslimnews_NG and titled, YORUBA MUSLIMS KICK AS MAKINDE APPOINT YET ANOTHER RADICAL CHRISTIAN PENTECOSTAL AS ALAAFIN OF OYO, the organisation wrote:
Yoruba Muslims under the aegis of Yoruba Muslims for Freedom (YMF) has condemned Seyi Makinde’s christianisation agenda. In a press release made available to newsmen, the spokesman of YMF, Mr. Lateef Akinwale uncovered the agenda of replacing all Muslim Yoruba Monarchs with RCCG Pentecostal Christians.
The spokesman gave a list of 25 monarchs to show the trend. He said the last 25 Muslim monarchs that died on throne were all replaced by RCCG Radical Pentecostal Christians.
“Muslims have been marginalised in Yoruba land for too long. We can no longer remain silent in the face of this shameless oppression, marginalisation and the denial of our rights to freedom of worship. We reject the forceful christianisation of Muslims by denying them jobs, scholarships and political appointments unless they convert.”
“Yoruba Muslims make up 70% of the population of the South West, but as we speak, there is no a single Yoruba Muslim as a Governor. 5 of the 6 deputy governors are Christians. 80% of Ministers are
Christians, 92% of State Commissioners are Christians. We cannot accept this arrangement,” he added.
Continuing, the organisation said, “This agenda to clear Islam is even more paramount in the Muslim Majority state of Oyo and Osun. Governor Seyi Makinde is hell bent on removing even the smallest trace of Islam in Oyo. His recent insistence that Muslims do not have the right to practice their religion (Shari’a) is a violation of the Nigerian constitution
“Since he came into office, he replaced Muslim monarchs with Christian Pentecostals. It started with the Muslim-majority Ogbomoso, then Iseyin and finally now to Oyo. We condemn this christianisation agenda in its totality.
“Yoruba Muslims must wake up and take back their country. Minority rule is alien to democracy. These monarchs are oppressing Muslims within their domain, sometimes even having the audacity to determine who will be an Imam and who will not be. Islam must be separated from traditional states in Yoruba land.
“We will mobilise Muslims in 2027 to make sure that Muslims vote for Muslims, and Christians vote for their Christians. No Christian will ever rule the Muslim Majority states of Osun, Oyo, and Lagos.
“Yoruba Muslims must be free. I assure you not even a Christian councilor, chairman, rep or Senate will come out again from Muslim-majority domains. We must do everything to recover our thrones given to Pentecostal Christians. Enough is enough,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has described Owoade’s appointment as “illegal, illegitimate, unlawful, unconstitutional and the height of impunity.”
In a statement signed by its Chairman, Oyo State Chapter, Barr Abdulwaheed Lawal, MURIC stated: “The Islamic human rights organization reacted a few hours after the announcement on Friday, 10th January, 2025 via a press statement issued by the Chairman and secretary of the organization in Oyo State, Barrister Abdulwaheed Lawal and Amb. Mallam Ibrahim Agunbiade respectively.
“The government of Oyo State has announced the appointment of Prince Abimbola Akeem Owoade as the new Alaafin of Oyo. The Oyo State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Prince Dotun Oyelade, made the announcement today, Friday, 10th January, 2025.
“This appointment is illegal, illegitimate, unlawful and unconstitutional. It is the height of impunity.
“It is surprising that Governor Seyi Makinde could ignore the recent letter written by the Oyo Kingmakers, expressing their displeasure with the Governor’s attempt to restart the selection process despite a pending court case. The new selection is therefore sub judice.
“Besides, Makinde has made a caricature of the tradition and custom of the ancient town of Oyo Alaafin with this appointment. It is lawlessness without borders.”
