A Yoruba self-determination group, Yoruba One Voice, led by Yorubaland’s Aare Onakakanfo, Iba Gani Adams, has spoken out against the movement to implement Sharia law in areas of the South West, warning that such a move might disrupt the region and jeopardise Nigeria’s already fragile diversity.
This position was outlined in a statement issued at the conclusion of YOV’s international virtual conference titled “Sharia Law in Yorubaland: Setting Things Straight through Restructuring”.
The conference was presided over by Adams, the YOV Convener, and brought together members of the YOV Global Coordinating Council, the General Assembly, essential stakeholders, and renowned Yoruba sons and daughters from around the diaspora.
The communique emphasised the importance of regional autonomy and restructuring for peaceful coexistence and sustainable development in Nigeria.
Participants feared that if the political class did not support true federalism, the Yoruba people would be forced to pursue complete political independence.
At the occasion, Adams criticised the implementation of Sharia law in Yoruba land, calling it a “weaponisation of religion” for political gain.
He warned that such actions might fuel unrest and empower extremists in the region.
“Introducing Sharia law will not improve our economic, political, or cultural fortunes,” Adams said. “It could shatter the peace of our land, force our youth into violence, and spark crises similar to what is happening in other parts of the country.”
The conference also released numerous major proposals, including a request for substantial constitutional revisions to decentralise control of local government and economic resources, lower the federal burden, and empower grassroots governance.
It emphasised that any religious court system must be voluntary, civil in nature, and function within the framework of human rights legislation.
Prof. Oluwafemi Obayori, who gave the keynote speech, acknowledged the historical presence of Islamic law in parts of Yorubaland, such as Ilorin, but warned that modern moves to institutionalise political Sharia in the region were a “cultural offensive” rather than a spiritual resurrection.
He warned that the uncontrolled proliferation of Sharia tribunals, the suppression of traditional religious rituals, and the marginalisation of indigenous holidays such as Isese constituted serious threats to cultural identity and national unity.
Prof. Kolawole Raheem, a technical adviser to YOV, agreed that while Yoruba Muslims deserved faith-based dispute resolution procedures, such systems should not undermine Nigeria’s secular legal structure or infringe on the rights of others.
Raheem went on to claim that in northern areas where political Sharia has taken root since 1999, non-Muslims have frequently faced systemic discrimination, a situation that must not be repeated in the South-West.
Also addressing the issue, YOV Secretary General Prince Adedokun Ademiluyi urged for coalitions with other ethnic nations advocating for restructuring, notably those in the Middle Belt and South-South, to establish a united front for regional autonomy and constitutional reforms.
He also emphasised the importance of strengthening regional security architecture and community police measures to prevent infiltration through religious enforcement.
The conference ended with a fresh call for peaceful resistance to what it described as the growing advance of religious extremism in a culturally pluralistic and constitutionally secular nation.
Notable attendees at the event were 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.
