Igbo Imam Of National Mosque Sparks Storm Of Hidden Agenda

The appointment of Prof Iliyas Usman Tochukwu, as the first Igbo Muslim to be an Imam of the National Mosque has sparked a controversy as to a yet undefined political agenda.

GWG.ng reports that Prof Iliyas Usman Tochukwu who is the first Igbo professor of Arabic studies became the first Igbo man to lead the Friday prayers at the National Mosque on Friday, October 18.

The development has led to wild celebration by Igbo Muslims and their well-wishers from other parts of the country.

However, the cheers around Iliyas Usman were not universal as some noted at an agenda. Inevitably, the political insinuations led to brickbats on social media as to the motiff of the Igbo who were accused of voting along religious and ethnic lines in the 2023 presidential election. The accusation was also fed with insinuation that the Muslim-Muslim ticket of the APC was also religious and aimed at winning votes.

GWG.ng gathered some of the reactions now raging on X, formerly known as twitter.

F A A R E E S   @MFaarees_

Alhamdulillah! An Igbo Muslim appointed as the chief Imam of National Mosque Abuja, the FCT! This is indeed a great day for us as Muslims in Nigeria, this tells the whole world that there’s no discrimination in Islam, we follow each other in prayers. Alhamdulillah 

The assertion of FAAREES that the appointment of Illiyas Usman as Imam of Abuja National Mosque being historic was quickly dismissed by roboticanimation tweeting at @newbreed1914

First they came with Igbo Muslim translated the Quran into Igbo language now they are coming with “Igbo imam”. Look at the man they are propagating as “imam of Igbo Muslim”. How does this Northerner who goes by the name Prof. lliyas Usman be Igbo Muslim? Well we know the Agenda.

However, the appointment of the Imam soon turned political following the claim by Foundational Nupe Lawyer who claimed that Peter Obi was the only one who galvanised ethnic and religious sentiments for votes in 2023.

That claim was counted by several who pointed at how the Igbo in 1999, voted for Olusegun Obasanjo against their son, Alex Ekwueme and again for Obasanjo in 2003 against former Biafran leader, Odumegwu Ojukwu.

There were, however, some who did not see anything of an agenda in the emergence of Iliyas Usman as the first Igbo Imam of the National Mosque.

Meanwhile, GWG.ng reports that many Nigerians will be waiting to see how Iliyas Usman’s appointment will alter the permutations of his ethnic folks in the Nigerian federation.

Send Us A Press Statement Advertise With Us Contact Us

 And For More Nigerian News Visit GWG.NG