Coalition rejects Sharia law in south-west, says ‘it won’t end poverty’

A coalition of 29 pan-Yoruba organisations has rejected proposals to introduce Sharia law in parts of the south-west, citing the region’s long-standing tradition of religious inclusivity.

In a statement released on Saturday, the coalition described the initiative as a threat to the multi-religious coexistence that has defined Yoruba society for “over 2,000 years”.

The statement comes in the wake of reports of the constitution of independent Sharia arbitration panels in Oyo state and Ekiti state.

While acknowledging the contributions of Islam to Yoruba culture, the groups argued that Sharia law is incompatible with the region’s diverse religious fabric, where families often include Muslims, Christians, and adherents of traditional faiths.

The groups also expressed concern over the socio-economic outcomes in northern states where Sharia is practised, citing widespread poverty, corruption, insecurity, and inequality.

They warned that replicating such a system in the south-west would not improve the region’s socioeconomic indices, but rather exacerbate existing challenges and destabilise the region.

“Introducing Sharia will not solve issues such as poverty, poor governance, and unemployment in Yorubaland. These are the results of visionless leadership, not the absence of religious law,” the statement reads.

“We state clearly that the introduction of Sharia cannot improve the economic, political, social and cultural deficit in Yorubaland.

“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;

“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.”

The coalition further accused proponents of Sharia law in the region of advancing a political agenda aimed at dividing Yoruba people and undermining democracy under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.

“Introduction of Sharia in Yorubaland will never be accepted to our people. Having destabilised the North, the proponents want to destabilise the South West and uproot the very foundation of democracy under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu; The intrigue is political, sponsored by vested interests, aimed at polarising the political and electoral fortunes of Yoruba Nation who for many Years have largely defined a common political future,” the groups said.

“No great nation would wish to have different laws for its own people of the same history and the same heritage.

“We, the true representatives of Yoruba people hereby strongly oppose any attempt, open or covert to introduce Sharia in any part of Oduduwaland of Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ekiti, Delta, Kogi, Edo, Kwara and Ondo States.

“We hereby warn religious bigots and extremists, including very naive and shallow-minded political actors to desist from their evil plots or they will face the full wrath of Yoruba people.”