Stakeholders in the Ilorin Emirate have been called upon to intervene and caution Sheikh Habibullahi Adam Al-Ilory, the Mudirul of Markaz Centre for Arabic and Islamic Studies, Agege, Lagos, over his repeated verbal attacks on the Grand Mufty of Ilorin, Sheikh Suleiman Faruq Onikijipa.
In a statement released in Ilorin on Sunday, Alhaji Abdulrahman Suyuti Onikijipa, speaking on behalf of the Onikijipa family, condemned Al-Ilory’s remarks, emphasizing that the Onikijipa lineage remains a unified and indivisible family. The statement, titled “No Bastard Among the Onikijipa: A Rejoinder to Habibullahi Adam Al-Ilory”, dismissed Al-Ilory’s claim that Sheikh Suleiman Faruq Onikijipa’s father was not a legitimate member of the Onikijipa family as both false and malicious.
The family asserted that Al-Ilory’s allegations were deliberate attempts to distort history and sow discord within the Onikijipa family. They pointed out that this was not the first time he had tried to manipulate historical narratives, even contradicting the accounts provided by his late father, Sheikh Adam Abdullahi Al-Ilory.
The statement further accused Al-Ilory of making baseless attacks a personal trademark, using his platform to discredit respected individuals. His claim that only Alfa Alabi Onikijipa is the true Onikijipa was dismissed as unfounded, with the family reiterating that both Alfa Alabi Onikijipa and Alfa Faruq Onikijipa (the father of Sheikh Suleiman Faruq Onikijipa) were brothers and belonged to the same family.
“We feel compelled to address this issue in light of Sheikh Habibullah Adam Al-Ilory’s latest outburst,” the statement read. “Ordinarily, we would have ignored his fabricated stories, but it is crucial to set the record straight for future generations. His attempts to rewrite history for reasons known only to him are misleading and mischievous.”
The statement also referenced Al-Ilory’s recent public remarks, accusing him of intentionally attacking the Onikijipa family during his Ramadan Tafsir. “On Friday, the 21st of Ramadan, he openly declared his intent to attack our family during his sermon, attempting to create division among us. However, let it be clear that we remain a strong and united family.”
Additionally, the family refuted Al-Ilory’s claim that Sheikh Suleiman Faruq Onikijipa harbored resentment toward his father, Sheikh Adam Al-Ilory, for not mentioning Sheikh Suleiman’s father in his book. “This allegation is not only laughable but entirely untrue. Sheikh Suleiman never made such a statement, and we challenge Al-Ilory to provide any proof of this claim,” the statement read.
Furthermore, the Onikijipa family dismissed Al-Ilory’s theory that any household situated outside the main Onikijipa compound is not part of the family. “Such an argument is baseless and lacks historical credibility,” the statement concluded.
The family urged stakeholders in the Ilorin Emirate to address Al-Ilory’s divisive rhetoric and prevent further attempts to distort the legacy of the Onikijipa lineage.
