ALAAFIN URGED TO CONSIDER MORALLY UPRIGHT SCHOLAR AS NEXT IMAM OF OYO TOWN

The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abdul Hakeem Owoade Elewuetu I, has been urged to ensure the appointment of a scholar with impeccable character, deep Islamic knowledge, and bridge-building qualities as the next Imam of Oyo town.

In an open letter dated Friday, August 8, 2025, Ambassador Mallam Ibrahim Agunbiade (Abu Jannāt), a Saudi Arabia–based Islamic scholar, commended the monarch’s leadership and described his enthronement as “a divine blessing to the Yoruba nation and Nigeria at large.”

Agunbiade, who was part of the recent delegation of the Oyo State Muslim community to the Alaafin’s palace, expressed delight over the historic visit, which he said resonated with pride across the South-West Muslim Ummah.

Appealing for a leader who embodies “scholarship, moral uprightness, and intellectual depth,” he recommended Barrister Bilal Akinola Husayn Akeugberu, Esq., as the most suitable candidate for the revered spiritual position.

“I am confident that sincere inquiries within and beyond the Muslim communities of Oyo town, Oyo State, and the South-West will confirm his piety, scholarly competence, and communal spirit,” Agunbiade stated.

He urged the monarch to use his influence to ensure the emergence of an Imam “who will serve as a unifying symbol, respected and embraced by all Muslim societies, associations, and communities across Oyo State and Nigeria.”

The envoy prayed for the Alaafin’s long life, sound health, and divine guidance, while also seeking blessings for Oyo town, Oyo State, and the nation.