…Over 500 clerics, leaders converge in Abeokuta
…Oloyede, Amosun, Salako-Oyedele decry disunity
…Call for synergy, inclusive leadership, development blueprint
Muslims in Ogun State on Tuesday convened their first-ever General Assembly in Abeokuta, marking a decisive move to heal internal divisions within the Ummah and reposition Islamic institutions for unity, social relevance and sustainable development.
The historic gathering, organised by the League of Imams and Alfas, Ogun State, and powered by the Council of Muslim Titled Chiefs (COMTIC), drew over 500 Islamic clerics, scholars, traditional rulers, politicians and community leaders from across the state.
Held under the theme “Synergy, Leadership and Development in the Muslim Ummah of Ogun State,” the assembly provided a platform for reflection on long-standing challenges confronting Muslims in the state, including institutional weakness, economic marginalisation, declining social influence and leadership gaps.
Speaking through his representative, Prof. Abdulafeez Oladosu, former Dean of the Faculty of Arts, University of Ibadan, the Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, lamented persistent disunity among Islamic leaders in Ogun State.
“Why are Imams in Ogun State not united?” Oladosu asked rhetorically, warning that fragmentation had weakened the collective voice and impact of Muslims. He expressed hope that the assembly would mark the beginning of a renewed era of cohesion and greatness for the Ummah.
Declaring the assembly open, Deputy Governor of Ogun State, Engr. Noimot Salako-Oyedele, stressed that spiritual authority alone could not drive development without inclusive leadership, structured organisation and active community participation.
Drawing analogies from business and politics, she said ideas thrive only when supported by followers and institutions, urging Islamic leaders to engage members beyond ceremonial gatherings.
“When leaders speak to people rather than with them, a dangerous gap develops,” Salako-Oyedele warned, noting that faith-based organisations that blended scholarship with lay participation had successfully built schools, universities, welfare systems and pilgrimage institutions.
She recalled the stalled secretariat project of the League of Imams, attributing it to weak community ownership, and contrasted it with the rapid growth of institutions driven by collective mobilisation.
“What we need is true synergy — leadership that speaks for the Ummah, not just to government; leadership that builds institutions, not personal influence,” she said.
Former Ogun State Governor and Senator, Ibikunle Amosun, who served as Father of the Day, described the assembly as timely, saying divisions within Islam had diminished its collective influence and distorted public perception.
He noted that doctrinal differences and organisational rivalries had often projected the Ummah as fragmented, urging Muslims to prioritise shared values and Qur’anic teachings over sectarian affiliations.
“When the Ummah works in synergy, we are better positioned to raise leaders who promote peaceful coexistence, social harmony and socio-economic development,” Amosun said.
Earlier, the Secretary General of the League of Imams and Alfas (Rabita), Ogun State, Sheikh Imam Tajudeen Adewunmi, said the assembly was convened in response to challenges in education, healthcare, economic empowerment, social justice and socio-political integration.
He described the forum as a deliberate effort to encourage honest engagement, leadership renewal and sustainable development through broad consultation and shared responsibility.
Adewunmi commended the Dapo Abiodun administration for sustained engagement with religious bodies and peaceful coexistence, while also praising the Federal Government’s resolution of disputes with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).
Also speaking, the Baba Adeen of Yorubaland and former Nigerian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, urged Muslim organisations to embrace harmony, noting that unity remained central to social stability and tolerance.
“The more united the people are, the better for society. The essence of this gathering is unity among Muslims,” he said.
In his keynote address, Emeritus Prof. Kamaldeen Balogun, Chief Imam of Gbagura-land and Mufti of Egba-land, traced the Ummah’s challenges in Ogun State to internal neglect, fragmentation, educational and welfare deficits, economic marginalisation and leadership disconnects.
Quoting Qur’anic injunctions against division and injustice, Balogun emphasised that renewal must begin from within, proposing the creation of a standing consultative platform, a Muslim Development Blueprint, strengthened zakat and waqf systems, economic cooperatives, inclusive leadership for youths and women, and stronger accountability mechanisms.
Other dignitaries at the event included Senator Shuaib Salis, former UK Ambassador Sharafadeen Tunji Ishola, former Deputy Governor Alhaja Salmot Badru, the Olowu of Owu Kingdom, Oba Prof. Saka Matemilola, representatives of the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, regional Chief Imams, academics and media practitioners.
The landmark assembly — the first of its kind in Ogun State — is widely viewed as a potential turning point, with participants expressing optimism that the strong calls for unity, inclusive leadership and institutional rebuilding would translate into concrete actions capable of repositioning the Muslim Ummah for greater relevance and sustainable development.
