A prominent Islamic cleric, Dr. Sharafdeen Gbadebo Raji, has come under fire following his controversial remarks accusing residents of Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, of engaging in idolatrous practices.
Raji, who is based in Ogbomoso and holds a PhD in Islamic Law and Jurisprudence from the Islamic University, Al-Madeenah, Saudi Arabia, made the comments during a religious programme he hosted to address un-Islamic customs among Muslims.
During the event, Raji engaged some young students in a question-and-answer session, prompting them to list what he described as idolatrous practices common among Ilorin indigenes. “They have mentioned a few things that Ilorin people do that negates Islam. Mention more,” he urged.
In response, one student cited the celebration of a yam festival, while another claimed that some people worship at Sobi mountain, visit Alfas for personal favors, and even pray at burial grounds.
The cleric’s remarks were met with swift backlash, particularly from indigenes of Ilorin, who accused him of defamation and called for legal action. Many residents expressed outrage over what they viewed as a deliberate attempt to tarnish the image of their city under the guise of religious teaching. Critics alleged that Raji was misleading and manipulating young minds by offering them incentives to make derogatory statements.
In reaction, Sheikh Labeeb Agbaji, an Ilorin-based cleric, issued a stern warning to Raji, urging him to stop maligning their city. “If he continues, I will come for him,” Agbaji said, hinting at possible legal or spiritual countermeasures. The situation has also stirred tensions between communities in Ilorin and Ogbomoso, as some fear the comments could trigger regional animosity.
The controversy spilled onto social media, where several users condemned Raji’s actions. Munir Aduagba, a TikTok user, lamented the generalization of the accusations. “Please don’t make it an issue of Ilorin and Ogbomoso’s fight. It is unacceptable,” he wrote. Another user, Layestewiy, said, “You cannot claim to be an Alfa and say this about the city. I’m disappointed in Dr. Sharafdeen.”
A Facebook user, Salihu Onimasa, went as far as calling the cleric a “nuisance,” demanding an apology for his alleged slander. On the microblogging platform X (formerly Twitter), a user named Aljaoharry criticized Raji’s method of presentation, stating, “The major problem of Dr. Sharof is that his methodology is not refined. Rewarding students for unverified statements is irresponsible.”
Some observers, however, took a more nuanced view. A user identified as awallexy on X acknowledged the intent behind the cleric’s question but faulted the lack of fact-checking. “If you ask such a delicate question, then you must be ready to fact-check to filter out lies and exaggeration,” he wrote. Meanwhile, another user, Kolapo Imam, offered a tempered defense of Raji, citing his ties to Ilorin scholars but admitting that the incident was a “huge mess.”
Dr. Raji, known for his sermons on TikTok, has built a reputation for challenging practices he considers anti-Islam among Muslims in Nigeria. However, his latest approach appears to have crossed a line for many, drawing widespread criticism and potentially damaging inter-city relations between Ilorin and Ogbomoso.
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