Yoruba groups protest against inauguration of Shari’ah panel in Ekiti

The Yoruba Regional Alliance (YRA) worldwide, in collaboration with all Yoruba self-determination organisations, has protested against the inauguration of the Independent Shari’ah Arbitration Panel inaugurated in Ado, the Ekiti State capital last week.

The composition of the panel which had its first sitting at the Ado central mosque had generated controversies in the state.

The state government and the Ewi of Ado, Oba Rufus Adejugbe had frowned at the panel and called for the suspension.

The protesters on Tuesday gathered along the popular Adebayo area of the state capital, where they chanted songs and carried placards with various inscriptions rejecting the panel in the state.

Some of the inscriptions read, ‘No to Sharia in Yoruba land ;  ‘Sharia will cause war’ ; Sharia is constitutional blunder’ ;  ‘ we reject Sharia ‘ 

Addressing newsmen, the leader of Yoruba Regional Alliance Worldwide, Opeoluwa Akinola alleged that the struggle to introduce Sharia into Yoruba land is an attempt to cause chaos and disharmony saying the practice does not represent her values.

Akinola noted that the Yoruba people irrespective of their religions, have co-existed peacefully for generations without the Sharia penal code wondering, “What the Sharia law introduction is going to achieve that the existing penal codes and legal systems operative in Yoruba land cannot.?

He said, ” We totally reject and condemn the proposed inauguration while calling on the Ekiti State government and relevant authorities to forestall the impending catastrophe by immediately putting a stop to any further preparations by the Supreme Council for Shari’ah in Nigeria to inaugurate the Sharia panel in Ekiti state and in any other part of Yoruba land.

“What positive advantage has Sharia contributed to the economy and well-being of the Indigenes of the states where it’s being practiced?  The affected states are still overwhelmed with poverty, out-of-school children insecurity and child molestation.

“We  call on all Yoruba Muslim organisations, Christian Associations, Isese and other Ibile traditional worshipers and Ifa adherents to come out in virulent condemnation of the move as they want to cause a schism in the age-old harmonious relationships between all our people in Yoruba land.”

On his part, the chairman Yoruba Nation Religious Council (YONAREC), Oluwafemi  Edafemi, said the group is opposed to the introduction of Sharia in Yoruba land. 

He said the proposal, allegedly championed by external religious fanatics with the collaboration of a few Yoruba Muslims, is not a representative of the cultural heritage of the Yoruba people. 

He hereby called on all Yoruba people, both within and outside the nation, to resist the imposition and stand firm in protecting the unity, culture and freedom of the Yoruba Nation. 

Others who spoke appealed to the government to prevail on the Muslim community to rescind their decision on the introduction of Sharia in Yoruba land.

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