A socio- political group, under the aegis of Yoruba One Voice (YOV) has condemned any attempt to introduce Sharia Law in the South-West region, saying that for Nigeria to witness true development, its continued existence must be anchored on regional self-governance and regional autonomy.
YOV gave this position at its international conference, a virtual one, themed: “Sharia Law in Yorubaland: Setting Things Straight through Restructuring,” which had in attendance Prof. Oluwafemi Obayori as guest lecturer and presided over by YOV convener, Aareonakakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Adams.
The conference brought together members of the YOV Global Coordinating Council; YOV General Assembly, other critical stakeholders, and prominent Yoruba sons and daughters across many countries to deliberate on the contentious and polarising move to introduce Sharia Law in Yorubaland.
YOV, a pro–Yoruba nation independent organization, in its deliberation, condemned the move to introduce Sharia Law in the region, describing the idea as an attempt to weaponise religion in politics.
The group, while insisting that no religion must be allowed to supersede the cultural and secular legal principles of Yorubaland, further insisted that any religious court system must be voluntary, limited to civil matters, and operate within the bounds of national human rights standards.
“No religion must be allowed to supersede the cultural and secular legal principles of Yorubaland,” the communique said.
YOV, however, stressed the urgent need for restructuring of the Nigerian state to reflect the autonomy and integrity of its constituent nationalities, just as the participants called for a comprehensive constitutional amendment to return control over local governments and economic resources to the regions, reduction of the burdens on the Federal Government, and strengthening of grassroots governance.
Earlier in his address, Iba Adams, while weighing in on the thorny attempt to introduce Sharia Law in the region, condemned the move, describing the idea was not only an attempt to weaponise religion in politics but could disrupt the peace in the region.
According to him, introducing Sharia Law will in no way improve the fortunes of the region economically, politically, and culturally, noting that Yorubaland is today seen as the most economically developed region in West Africa.
“A policy that would be introduced, that could shatter the peace in the land and lead to anarchy, force our teeming youth population to take up arms, and ultimately result in such societal malaise as banditry, as being witnessed in some parts of the country, is not welcome in the Southwest,” he said.
This was just as noted that the impact of the breakdown of law and order, manifesting in banditry, insurgency, kidnapping and the likes, across other regions could not be overlooked.
On restructuring, Iba Adams noted that there was no way Nigeria could move forward without restructuring, saying that with such an arrangement, every region would have their way to determine their future.
“By this, I mean restructuring towards self-determination. In such arrangement, every region would have their way to determine their future,” Iba Adams said.
The guest lecturer, Prof. Femi Obayori, said it was imperative that Yoruba people, regardless of religious affiliation, interrogate the development, having to do with introduction of Sharia Law, within the context of their collective identity, the security realities of Nigeria, and the need for genuine restructuring as a panacea.
Obayori noted that Sharia was not new to Yoruba land given that its presence in places like Ilorin and among Islamic scholars in the old Oyo empire predated modern Nigeria.
He, however, observed that the recent proliferation of unregulated Sharia panels, attacks on traditional religion practitioners, and actions against Isese festivals, pointed to a cultural offensive and not mere religious devotion.
Obayori averred that political Sharia, as practised in 12 Northern states since 1999, included practices that contradicted both the Yoruba worldview and international human rights principles.
He also observed that political elites at the federal level had shown greater interest in appeasing religious sentiments for electoral gain rather than addressing existential threats.
Also speaking, Prof. Kolawole Raheem, a technical adviser to YOV, noted that while Muslims in Yorubaland deserved access to dispute resolution mechanisms consistent with their faith, it must not override secular law or infringe on the rights of others.
Raheem said that in states where political Sharia had taken root, non-Muslims often faced systemic discrimination, making replication in the South West unacceptable.
He submitted that the introduction of a parallel religious legal system could potentially incite religious extremism, anarchy, and insecurity, similar to the crises in other parts of Nigeria plagued by banditry, insurgency, and kidnappings.
YOV Secretary General, Prince Adedokun Ademiluyi, in his own remark, stressed the need for Yoruba to collaborate with other ethnic groups seeking restructuring, affirmative action, or autonomy, particularly in the Middle-Belt and South-South.
Ademiluyi advocated that community policing and regional security architecture must be strengthened to repel external threats and infiltration under any guise.
Some of the attendees at the conference include Akogun Olakanye Franklin, Iyalode Abike Ade, Chief Mark Oyetunde, Ms Modupe Sodimu, Yeyeluwa Alice Eniola, Yeye Oge Tina Atinuke, Chief Gani Wahab, Prince Adedapo Adesanmi and Princess Adenike Olotu.
Others are Chief Kayode Orenisi, Chief Jeremiah Adesanya, Otunba Fadesewa Agbeke, Chief Olu Omo, Prince Olajide Olateru, Asiwaju Kayode Idowu, Mr Aikulola Folorunso, Mr Opaniyi Odeshina, Otunba Adewale Adepoju and Prince Adebimpe Ladigbolu, among others.
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