A group of Islamic scholars under the auspices of Supreme Council of Islamic Scholars of Nigeria, Osun State Branch, has faulted the reported moves to extend the tenure of the chairman of the Osun State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, Dr. Moruf Isola, beyond 2026.
The Council, in a letter dated 9th October, 2026 and addressed to Governor Ademola Adeleke, said the incumbent has already spent 8 consecutive years in office, making him the longest-serving chairman in the history of the board.
The letter was signed by the State Coordinator, Mallam Isiak Abdul Rahman, and five other scholars representing Ede, Ikire, Ife, Ikirun and Ila zones.
The scholars were reacting to a communique earlier issued by the Osun State League of Imams and Alfas, signed by the Grand Imam of Osun, Shaykh Musa Animasahun.
The League’s communique responded to an earlier press conference by the Iwo Board of Ulama, which demanded that an Iwo indigene be appointed chairman.
But the League, while reacting to the Iwo Ulama, stated that the incumbent, Dr. Isola, who is from Osogbo zone, is expected to serve till 2030.
While the League argued that no community can unilaterally lay claim to the office and that Ede, Ife, Ikire and Ikirun zones are yet to produce a chairman, it said equity should be considered only after the expiration of Isola’s tenure in 2030.
But the Supreme Council of Islamic Scholars described the 2030 projection as an unfair extension and an overreach that would make Isola spend 12 years as Chairman.
“Any attempt to extend his tenure beyond this year 2026 will make him spend 12 years as Chairman of Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, which has never happened in any state in the South-West. Nobody has ever spent more than 8 years as Chairman in any of the South-West states,” the council said.
The group noted that Osogbo alone has cumulatively spent over 15 years, Ijesa almost 11 years and Iwo almost 7 years in that office, while Ife, Ede, Ikire, Ikirun and Ila-Orangun zones have never produced a chairman.
The Council argued that Osogbo, Iwo and Ijesa should not be considered for the next appointment, and called on Governor Adeleke to allow a zone that has never held the position to produce the next chairman.
It further stated that there is no law giving the League of Imams and Alfas exclusive rights to nominate the chairman, noting that chairmen from Iwo and Ijesa were not appointed by the League.
The scholars urged Governor Adeleke, whom they described as a just leader, to advise the current chairman to voluntarily leave the stage after completing 8 years, to give room for inclusiveness and zonal balance.