PUNCH
Leaders of pan-Yoruba groups representing artisans, workers, students, community-based groups, traders, professionals and self-determination groups have jointly expressed their opposition against the move to introduce Sharia Law in Yorubaland.
The Yoruba groups raised the alarm over what they described as a conscious plot to destabilise Yorubaland through an organised sponsorship of divisive and retrogressive proposals that would ultimately cause unrest in the South-West.
This was disclosed in a statement jointly signed by the leaders of 29 pan-Yoruba groups which included Alliance for Yoruba Democratic Movements, O’odua Nationalist Coalition, South West Professional Forum, and Federation for Yoruba Consciousness and Culture, made available to Sunday PUNCH.
Expressing their respect for Islam, which the leaders of the groups noted had promoted education, health and welfare in Yorubaland since the 14th century, they however expressed plan to oppose the imposition of Sharia by a religious fringe on the multi-religious region.
The statement partly read, “We recognise the right to debate the future of the children of Oduduwa and the right to free speech as exemplified in the constitution of Nigeria and in the timeless culture of Yorubaland; free expression, including the right to faith, has been an integral part of Yoruba civilisation, dating back to close to 2,000 years, a cherished heritage that we have defended and will continue to defend with every pint of our blood.
“We have observed the current proposal, by a tiny group of people, backed by largely non-Yoruba domestic and international collaborators pushing for the introduction of Sharia in Yorubaland.
“We state clearly that the introduction of Sharia cannot improve the economic, political, social and cultural deficit in Yorubaland. Yorubaland though seen as the most economically developed territory in West Africa, attained this feat not through theocracy but by the hard work, commitment, and determination of our forefathers who were both Muslims, Christians and Traditional worshippers.”
The Yoruba leaders further stated, “We, the true representatives of Yoruba people hereby strongly oppose the introduction of Sharia in any part of Oduduwaland of Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ekiti, Delta, Kogi, Edo, Kwara and Ondo States.
“Sharia is not feasible and can never be acceptable to a multi-religious, muti-faith people like the Yoruba; Sharia is only applicable in societies where Islam is the state religion or majority of the people profess Islam.”
The leaders accused the proponents of Sharia in the South West of a plan “to destabilise the South West and uproot the very foundation of democracy” and attributed this to political intrigue “sponsored by vested interests, aimed at polarising the political and electoral fortunes of Yoruba nation.”
Tensions over the introduction of Sharia Law in the South-West began in December 2024 when a flier from the Supreme Council for Shari’ah in Nigeria went viral online.
The flier announced the planned inauguration of a Sharia court in Oyo State, scheduled for January 11, 2025.
The announcement sparked backlash from Yoruba groups and online users, leading the Oyo State chapter of the Islamic council to indefinitely postpone the inauguration.
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