Islamic scholars in Osun State under the aegis of Supreme Council of Islamic Scholars of Nigeria, has faulted the alleged move to extend the tenure of the chairman of the 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 chairman of the board has already spent eight consecutive years in office, making him the longest serving chairman in the history of the board.
In the letter signed by the State Coordinator of the group, Mallam Isiak Abdul Rahman and five other scholars representing Ede, Ikire, Ife, Ikirun and Ila Orangun zones, the religious body said there is no besis for Ishola to serve another term.
The group while reacting to a communique earlier issued by the Osun State League of Imams and Alfas where they called for the extension of tenure of Ishola, noted that any extension or reappointment will not be in the best interest of the board.
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.
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 eight 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 seven 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.
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