The ancient town of Apomu, headquarters of Isokan local government was on Friday tensed as two Chief Imams emerged for Apomu Central Mosque.
It was gathered that supporters of the two Clerics, parading themselves as Chief Imams, Ismail Eniafe and his rival, Alhaji Muhib Ishola Olawale, have been boasting to cause mayhem in the town if ‘Suroh’ Committee (Kingmakers) allowed any of them to lead Jumaat prayer at the mosque.
The two clerics were turbaned at separate venues last Thursday, with a view to leading prayers on Friday, barely one month after the death Alh. Muritadoh Akintayo, the former Chief Imam, who died on November 28, 2019.
Daily Trust correspondent who was at the mosque, saw large crowd of youths loyal to both parties, and the security operatives, including Police and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in their large numbers, also on ground to forestall breaking of law and order.
A supporter of Alhaji Olawale, who simply identified himself as Alfa Olohunosebi, said the selection of Chief Imam is not complicated, arguing that it is a tradition to pick ‘Nahibu-l-Imam’ (Second-in-Command) to occupy the position if the former occupier dies.
He said, “Alhaji Olawale is the best person to fill the vacant position of Chief Imam. He is the person who is next to Late Chief Imam. I wonder why some youths are going against such a tradition. They should allow peace to reign and stop threatening people with charms.”
But one of the Eniafe’s supporters, who simply identified himself as Lekan, faulted the claim, saying that there was no any written agreement as regards who is supposed to occupy the position when it becomes vacant.
Another resident of the town who spoke with InsightMedia on condition of anonymity, Sheik Eniafe is being backed by some political class. He added that he was taken to the local government secretariat immediately after his turbaning on Thursday.
“Sheik Eniafe doesn’t live at home. But he’s preferred by some political class,while Sheikh Olawale is being backed by league of Alfas and Imams.
“Immediately after Eniafe’s turbaning, he was driven to the local government secretariat”, he said.
