Don’t bring Sharia law to Yoruba land, Yoruba Youths warn Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs
By Julius Alabi, Akure
The Yoruba Nation Youths, both at home and in the diaspora, have warned the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) under the leadership of President General and Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence Alh. Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar not to cross their boundaries by igniting war in Yoruba land with the proposed Sharia law.
The youths said that Yorubas are united in their resolve to maintain religious tolerance, and as such, there is no need for Sharia law, “we strongly oppose the introduction of Sharia law or courts in any part of Yorubaland It is alien to Yoruba culture and religious beliefs of tolerance.
“The “Fulanisation” agenda to conquer our land is not hidden, and they are using every method in the book to work towards perfecting the agenda. We do not want our Monarchs and Governors in the South-West to be deceived by the so-called Sharia law/court and to be sucked in by whatever method they may be using.”
In a joint statement, the Yoruba National Youth Leader (Diaspora), Prophet Ayodele Ologunloluwa, and the Homebase Leader, Comrade Oyegunle Oluwamayowa Omotoyole (Omayor), said this is another strategy by the Hausa/Fulani to enslaved and conquer the Yorubas by all means.
“We say no to Sharia law or courts in Yoruba Land; this Sharia law scheme is hypocritical. We don’t need it in Yorubaland. We, the Yorubas, rejected anything that would affect our culture, tradition, and lifestyle.”
The Yoruba Nation Youths also warned the Sultan of Sokoto, Alh. Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, not to try those nonsense in Yoruba Land, saying, “We Yoruba youths both Home and Diaspora like to caution you on your latest antics to renew your grand 1804 design to conquer the entire Yoruba Land by trying to establish Sharia Law in our homeland”
The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), through the Deputy National Legal Adviser, Imam Haroun Muhammad Eze, had in a press release dated January 29, 2025, insisted on going ahead with the establishment of Sharia law and courts in the South-West zone of Nigeria.
It was noted that the NSCIA strongly supports the establishment of the Independent Shariah Arbitration Panel in Ekiti, Oyo, and other parts of the South West Region, calling on the governors and traditional authorities to support the moves.
It stated that the Arbitration and the Shariah Court of Appeal, just like the Customary Court of Appeal (which all of them have), are provided for in the 1999 Constitution (as amended) of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (section 275), confirming the legality.
However, the youths, while reacting to the press release, described the proposal of the Sharia law or courts in the South-West as “laughable”, saying that it is suicidal to allow such a thing to happen in Yoruba Land as it is a conscious plot to destabilise the Yorubas and cause unrest in the land.
“We are warning our traditional rulers and governors that the Yoruba Nation Youths will resist the introduction of Sharia law in our homeland, and any such attempt to initiate Sharia law and court will cause anarchy, division, and instability in the region.
“Sharia law, in any form, is unsuitable for Yoruba Land. We will battle to defend our land with our last blood. We would not allow any invitation of terrorism to Yorubaland. Sharia is not a collective will/desire of our people and shall be resisted in the clearest and most determined way. Rather than fight the traitors in our midst, the instigators will be dealt with.
They said even the 12 Northern states where Sharia law is being practised are characterised by poverty, corruption, high mortality rates, terrorism, violence, and unprecedented human misery.
According to them, the Sharia states are currently theatres of war at the mercy of Boko Haram, killings, and kidnapping, saying the states have the highest rate of instability in Nigeria.
“Yoruba South-West is distinct from the northern region; It is an attempt to cause chaos in Yorubaland. Sharia law and court runs contrary to the culture and tradition of the Yoruba people.
The youths also cautioned all the Governors and Traditional rulers in the South West that allowing the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) to have its way by establishing a Sharia law and court in the region would be a call for a “civil war” in Yoruba Land and destruction to what Yoruba Land stands for and the little development that Yoruba people are experiencing presently.
“We are saying no to Sharia law and court in any part of Yoruba Land to forestall the impending catastrophe in the land as it will lead to unimaginable chaos and cause massive dislocations beyond the imaginations of everyone”
“Sharia law is alien to our culture, and those Hausa/Fulani religious fanatics masquerading as Muslims should stay away from stocking the embers of war in Yoruba Land under the guise of one Nigeria.”, they added