The League of Imams and Alfas in Yorubaland has warned Muslims, traditional institutions and the general public against individuals and groups allegedly conferring Islamic chieftaincy titles without its authorisation.
The league said it had not authorised any person or organisation to confer Islamic chieftaincy titles on its behalf, warning that such activities could create confusion and undermine the institutional heritage of the Muslim community in Yorubaland.
The warning was contained in a statement signed by the President of the league and Chief Imam of Ekiti State, Sheikh Jamiu Kewulere, alongside the Vice President and Chief Imam of Ogun State, Sheikh Saadullah Bamgbola, and other senior Muslim clerics.
The statement followed what the league described as the recent activities of individuals and groups conferring titles similar or identical to distinguished Islamic chieftaincy titles historically associated with the league.
The clerics urged Muslims across Yorubaland to verify the authenticity of individuals or groups before accepting any Islamic chieftaincy title.
They stressed that the league would not allow anything to undermine the unity of the Muslim Ummah in the region.
“The League of Imams and Alfas in Yoruba Land hereby issues this official disclaimer to the entire Muslim Ummah, traditional institutions, governments, corporate organisations, community leaders, philanthropists and the general public,” the statement said.
The clerics explained that the league was established in 1964 through the initiative of the late Sheikh Adam Abdullahi Al-Ilory and other founding fathers across the then Western Region of Nigeria.
For more than six decades, they said, the league had served as an umbrella institution for Imams, Alfas and Muslim communities across Yorubaland.
They added that the organisation had historically promoted Islamic brotherhood, unity, peace, moderation, mutual respect and harmonious coexistence among Muslims and other communities.
According to the statement, Islamic chieftaincy titles conferred by the league were intended to recognise Muslims who had demonstrated outstanding service, sacrifice and commitment to Islam and the welfare of the Muslim Ummah.
The clerics therefore warned against what they described as attempts to replicate or appropriate titles traditionally associated with the constituted leadership of the league.
They said the issue was not about creating division but about protecting the integrity of an institution with a long history of serving Muslims across the region.
The league also called on traditional rulers, governments, corporate organisations, community leaders and philanthropists to ascertain the authority behind any organisation claiming the power to confer such titles.
The Muslim leaders said the unity of the Ummah, the league’s institutional heritage and the peaceful coexistence enjoyed in Yorubaland would not be compromised.
They, however, stressed that they remained committed to dialogue and peaceful resolution of differences.
“We have no desire to create unnecessary division among Yoruba people or between religious communities,” the statement added.
“Rather, our objective is to prevent confusion, protect institutional integrity and preserve the long-standing harmony among the people of Yoruba land.”
The clerics maintained that their intervention was aimed at ensuring clarity and preserving the credibility of Islamic leadership structures in Yorubaland.
They urged Muslims to remain vigilant and seek clarification from the constituted leadership of the league whenever questions arise over the authenticity of Islamic chieftaincy titles.
The warning comes against the backdrop of the growing public recognition attached to Islamic titles, with the league insisting that such honours should retain their historical meaning and institutional legitimacy.
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