Oba Abdulrosheed Adewale Akanbi, the Oluwo of Iwoland, wants sweeping changes in how Muslim clerics operate across the region. He made this known on Saturday in Ibadan at the launch of a newly registered association.
The association brings together over one thousand Imams and Alfas from nine states. These include Osun, Oyo, Ondo, Lagos, Ekiti, Ogun, Edo and Delta.
According to the monarch, unregistered leagues have created problems in the past. He wants this new body to fix those mistakes and move forward.
Oba Akanbi stressed an important advantage of the new league. It has legal backing from the Corporate Affairs Commission, or CAC, he noted.
Registration number 9003000 makes it official and binding, the ruler explained. Previous groups lacked this government recognition and support.
"The body will create a sense of belonging through a decentralised power of the state Imams by recognizing Imams and Alfas at the local levels," he said. This approach will strengthen the structure from grassroots level upward.
Oba Akanbi challenged the clerics to jump into active politics immediately. He believes political involvement will showcase their values and influence.
"Active politics will expose the virtues of good Muslims and further provide an opportunity to improve people's standards," the Oluwo told them. Sitting on the sidelines won't help, he warned.
He urged Muslim leaders to join political parties and contest for positions. Waiting for politicians to approach them isn't working anymore.
"If you are politically powerful, the politicians will call you," Oba Akanbi noted. "You won't run after them as we experience presently."
Power must be pursued, not expected as a gift, he stressed. Muslims need representation in government at all levels.
The new league faces early challenges but should survive, Oba Akanbi predicted. Consistency and dedication from members will prove crucial to its success.
"There may be challenges at the formation stage," he acknowledged. "I have strong hope that this registered league will strive and become greater."
He commended those who pushed for the league's creation and registration. Their work represents progress for Muslim communities in the South West and beyond.
"It's an improvement and one of the testimonies that our children should be greater than us," he said. "It is not a division.
It is an improvement."
