The Ghanaian Minaret

Accra: Sheikh Usman Nuhu Sharubutu, the National Chief Imam, has broken a long-standing convention at his home by vacating his customised chair for a female visitor.

In an unexpected twist, the Chief Imam, upon availing himself to awaiting guests in his living room, fished out the woman and single-handedly placed her on his seat.

He then moved to occupy a nearby seat meant for visitors.

The woman in question was Sayyada Namawu, the first child of the late Sheikh Abdulai Maikano, a compatriot of the Chief Imam and an influential Tijjaniyya cleric who died on September 12, 2005.

She was leading a delegation of the Abdullahi Maikano family to express gratitude to the Chief Imam for the support shown during their grieving period.

The family had in a gruesome manner lost a member, Ali Ahmed Maikano, alias Kalamul Faida Jallo, who is a sibling to Sayyada Namawu. Ali Ahmed was murdered on March 17, 2021.

Sheikh Armeyaw Shuaib, Spokesperson of the National Chief Imam, said the gesture of the Imam was a sign of reverence and respect the Chief Imam had for the delegation.

The delegation was made up of grandchildren, cousins, and some other relatives of the late Sheikh Maikano.

The Chief Imam, in his remarks, said he had a very close relationship with Sheikh Maikano, who would only honour invitations to preach in Accra based on his approval.

“Whoever requested of him to preach, he would refer the person to me, and if I agreed, then he would go.

“Mallam has shown me love, and I have also shown him love,” he said.

Sayyada Namawu said the house of the Sheikh Sharubutu is also the house of the Maikano family, and “we are your children.”

She emphasised the importance of maintaining family ties and appealed to the Chief Imam to have the forbearance to continue to tolerate the excesses of “his children.”.

“Whatever our fathers have sown should not be destroyed by us. And even if we try to destroy it, we would be the ones in ruin,” she said.