Grand Chief Imam urges vibrant media team for Rabitoh 1964

Stanley Ihedigbo

Grand Chief Imam of Oyo Land, Sheikh Al-Imam Bilal Husayn Akinola Akeugberu, has called for the immediate establishment of a vibrant, professional and well-coordinated media team for Rabitoh 1964 to ensure clear, accurate and unified communication of the organisation’s positions.

Sheikh Akeugberu said the media team should be headed by a seasoned media executive with demonstrable experience across print, electronic and digital platforms.

According to him, a strong communication structure would enable Rabitoh 1964 to effectively project its vision, mission, principles and public positions, while preserving the ideals and blueprint of its founding fathers.

The Grand Chief Imam made the recommendation in a statement released to newsmen by his Director of Media and Publicity, Mallam Ibrahim Agunbiade, on Monday.

He noted that a professionally constituted media team would significantly reduce the communication burden on the principal coordinators of the organisation, particularly the Mudeer Markaz.

He stressed that the views and official positions of Rabitoh should be properly articulated, contextualised and communicated to the Muslim Ummah and the general public to prevent misunderstanding, distortion or misrepresentation.

Sheikh Akeugberu also cautioned against allowing Rabitoh 1964 to be perceived as an organisation identified exclusively with any particular ideological sect, jurisprudential school or group within the Muslim Ummah.

He said the organisation, as a broad Islamic platform, should remain a unifying institution guided by the Qur’an and the authentic Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, while recognising legitimate differences of opinion in matters of Islamic jurisprudence.

He identified issues such as the commencement and termination of Ramadan, sighting of the crescent moon and whether Sha‘ban should be completed with 30 days as areas requiring knowledge, wisdom, consultation and responsible communication.

According to him, differences in jurisprudential matters should not be allowed to create the impression that Rabitoh belongs exclusively to a particular sect, creed, group or ideological tendency.

The Grand Chief Imam further stressed that Rabitoh 1964 was not a conclave association, noting that Islam is an open religion and institutions established to serve the Muslim Ummah should operate with openness, transparency, consultation and collective responsibility.

He maintained that where Rabitoh is required to take a position on matters affecting the Ummah, adequate consultation should precede such decisions, while the eventual position should be clearly communicated as the agreed standpoint of the organisation.

He described a vibrant media structure as more than a publicity mechanism, saying it should function as an essential institutional arm of Rabitoh 1964.

Such a team, he explained, should be capable of engaging newspapers, radio, television, online platforms and social media, while monitoring public narratives concerning the organisation and promptly correcting misinformation, misrepresentation and inaccurate attribution of positions.

Sheikh Akeugberu said a properly structured media team would strengthen the relationship between Rabitoh and the wider Muslim Ummah in Yorubaland, promote greater understanding of its objectives and contribute to the preservation of the unity and dignity of the Muslim community.

He therefore urged the leadership of Rabitoh 1964 to give serious consideration to the immediate constitution of a competent and professionally led media team headed by an experienced media executive who understands contemporary communication across print, electronic and digital platforms.

The media team, he said, should be able to faithfully translate the decisions and positions of the organisation into clear, responsible and authoritative public communication.

The Grand Chief Imam said the ultimate objective should be for Rabitoh 1964 to speak with one clear and authoritative voice without compromising the legitimate diversity of jurisprudential opinions within the Muslim Ummah.