Leaders of Pan-Yoruba groups have strongly opposed any move to introduce Sharia law in the Southwest, calling it a deliberate plot to destabilize Yorubaland. They warned that such proposals, if implemented, would cause division, confusion, and potentially ignite intra-Yoruba conflicts, all aimed at weakening the unity of the region.
In a statement signed by prominent Yoruba leaders, including Tajudeen Olowo of the Alliance for Yoruba Democratic Movements (AYDM), Olu Sulaiman of the O’odua Nationalist Coalition (ONAC), and Dr. Kola Afolabi of The Covenant Group (CP), the groups expressed their firm opposition to the imposition of Sharia law in any part of Yoruba territory, including Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, and other southwestern states.
The groups argued that Sharia law cannot solve the region’s social, political, and economic challenges.
They emphasized that Yorubaland’s progress, particularly its economic development, was achieved through the hard work of diverse religious groups, including Muslims, Christians, and traditional worshippers, not through theocracy.
“We are witnessing a calculated attempt to destabilize the region through divisive and dangerous proposals that threaten unity and provoke conflicts among the Yoruba people. Sharia law is not compatible with the multi-religious and multi-faith nature of Yorubaland,” the statement read.
The leaders also pointed to the failures of Sharia law in the northern states, where its implementation has been associated with high poverty rates, instability, and violence.
They cited statistics showing that the poverty rate in Sharia-ruled states like Zamfara, Sokoto, and Katsina is among the highest in the country, with many citizens living in extreme poverty, while the political elite in those regions continue to amass wealth.
“These states, where Sharia has been imposed, are rife with poverty, violence, and lawlessness. It is a model that has failed, and we do not want this fate for our region,” they stated, condemning the unequal application of Sharia in northern states, where the rich escape justice while the poor face harsh punishments.
The groups also expressed concern that the push for Sharia in the Southwest is politically motivated, aiming to disrupt the unity and political fortunes of the Yoruba people.
They warned that this was part of a broader effort to undermine democracy and sow discord within the region, which has long maintained a shared political vision.
“Any attempt to impose Sharia in Yorubaland, whether openly or covertly, will be fiercely opposed. The Yoruba people will not tolerate such divisive actions,” the leaders stated, urging religious extremists and political figures to abandon their plans.
They reaffirmed their commitment to preserving the unity and democratic values of the Yoruba people and warned that any such efforts to impose Sharia would be met with strong resistance.
