Newsbreak: Hundreds of Pan Yoruba groups oppose Sharia in South West

Says Sharia advocates working for Boko Haram

Warn of Muslim, Christian, traditionalists’ mass resistance against Sharia

By Alao Abiodun and Omolade Adegbuyi

Notable Pan Yoruba groups have spoken in one voice: No Sharia in Yoruba territories.

The groups in a joint statement released at the weekend and made available to Irohinoodua said the plot to introduce Sharia in the South West remains a “grand illusion.”

It described it as a “preconceived act to destroy the agelong cultural, economic and political unity in Yorubaland” adding that the promoters from outside Yorubaland are looking to ensure “full circle instability in Nigeria having succeeded in some parts of the North.”

The statement tagged “Historic Position of Pan Yoruba groups on Sharia” said Islam has contributed immensely to Yoruba civilisation since the 14th century having built the first Mosque at Oyo Ile in 1550 and has made tremendous contributions to the economic, education and industrial development of Yorubaland.

The group however said faith in Yoruba history has always been a personal affair and not a state matter.

“On behalf of millions of Yoruba people across the world, we, members and leaders of Pan Yoruba groups representing artisans, workers, students, community based groups, traders, professionals and Self-determination groups spread across Yoruba territories in Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Itsekiri areas of Delta, Edo, Ekiti, Ondo, Kwara and Kogi States, we speak on Sharia, its implications on the over 2000 year old civilisation of Yoruba people,” the group stated.

The groups said further “We do not come as Christians, Muslims, Animists, Artiest or Traditional worshipers but as Yoruba created same way by Almighty God the creator of the universe bounded together by humanity seeking perpetuation of peace, love and progress of Yorubaland.”

The groups said they recognise the right to debate the future of the children of Oduduwa and the right to free speech as exemplified in the constitution of Nigeria and in the timeless culture of Yorubaland adding that free expression, including the right to faith has been an integral part of Yoruba civilisation, dating back to close to 2000 years, a cherished heritage that the people have defended and “will continue to defend with every pint of our blood”

The statement was signed by several groups representing artisans, students, women, self determination and civil society groups in Lagos, Oyo, Ogun,Edo, Delta, Ekiti, Ondo, Kwara, Kogi and Osun states.

The groups said the current proposal, “by a tiny group of people, backed by largely non-Yoruba domestic and international collaborators pushing for the introduction of Sharia in Yorubaland is a dangerous dimension aimed at creating conflict and instability in Yorubaland.

The groups said Islam is a religion of peace.

“Yoruba Muslims are proud of the place of Islam in sustainable development in Yorubaland.
Islam has made significant contributions to the economic, social and spiritual development of Oodua territories. Through Islam, education, health and welfare have been promoted in Yorubaland. Islam came to Yorubaland in the 14th century during the reign of Mansa Musa (1312-1337). The first Mosque in Yorubaland was built at Oyo-Ile in 1550, followed by another Mosque in Iwo (1655), Iseyin, (1790), Lagos, (1774), Saki (1790) and Osogbo, (1889).
Prior the adventure of Islam in Yorubaland, according to a school of thought on Yoruba history, Oduduwa himself had left the Middle East, partly for religious freedom as early as the 9th century, choosing to settle in a territory known for tolerance and free spirit as directed by God, the creator of heaven and earth.”

The groups said as far back as the 14th century, the Yoruba have been visiting Mecca for pilgrimage, millions of them settling in Sudan, Egypt, Ethiopia and constitute a huge population in East and Northern Africa today.

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

The groups said proponents of Sharia in Yorubaland are fronts for “violent extremists” whose ideology is similar or the same with Boko Haram.

They noted that Yorubaland though seen as the most economically developed territory in West Africa, attained this feat not through theocracy but by the hardwork, committment, “determination of our forefathers who were both Muslims, Christians and Traditional worshipers” adding that that the poverty, misery, lack of access to good health, increasing number of school drop outs, lack of access to economic and political powers by poor Yoruba people, “are direct results of poor, visionless and irresponsible leadership which the introduction of Sharia cannot and will not curb.”

The groups said poverty, corruption, high mortality rate, terrorism, violence and unprecedented human misery characterise the 12 states where Sharia has been introduced in the North.

“Zamfara state for instance has 74% poverty rate while 62% live in poverty; Katsina has 74.1% poverty rate. In fact, Sokoto, the headquarters of the Caliphate which also operates Sharia has the highest poverty rate in Nigeria at 79.9%. While the Sharia states have the poorest of the poor, the political leaders that introduced Sharia in these states are some of the richest in the world.
The Sharia states are currently theatres of war, strive, killings and kidnapping driven by crisis of faith while the Sharia states also have the highest rate of instability in Nigeria. This is the dream of the tiny clique that wishes to Talibanise Yoruba Nation; they often learn nothing from history, until their self-destruction is evident.”

The groups said the hypocritical aspect of Sharia in these states is the bias implementation of the law whereby the rich continue to exploit the poor, steal billions of Naira and go scot free, while the poor and the impoverished who steal fowl have their hands chopped off.

“We observe a conscious and tailor-made plot to destabilise Yorubaland through organised sponsorship of divisive, retrogressive and dangerous proposals that will end up causing confusion, disunity and raise the spectre of intra-Yoruba conflict to the delight of our eternal foes”

The groups said “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. Sharia is not feasible and can never be acceptable to a multi-religious, multi-faith people like the Yoruba;
Sharia is only applicable in societies where Islam is the State religion or majority of the people profess Islam.”

The groups said though proponents of Sharia claim the law is for only Muslims, but the contradictions are self evident.

“The Yoruba are bound by blood, history, common fear and shared aspirations, not by religion; How can any one in his right senses conceive Sharia law in a society where Muslim parents have Christian Children and Muslim husbands have Christian or even animist wives and vice versa? There are Yoruba Muslim parents whose children do not go to Mosque and Yoruba Christian parents whose children are Baba or Iyalawo;
This freedom of faith which has enriched Yoruba civilisation for centuries is what religious extremists, rabid and riotous fanatics and religious anarchists, sponsored by international terrorists are desperate to destroy, fortunately, to their own peril, at the fullness of time.”

They noted that the introduction of Sharia in Yorubaland will never be accepted to the 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.”

They argied that no great nation would wish to have different laws for her 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 naïve and shallow-minded political actors to desist from their evil plots or they will face the full wrath of Yoruba people.”

The groups that signed the statement are Tajudeen Olowo- Alliance for Yoruba Democratic Movements, (AYDM); Olu Sulaiman- O’odua Nationalist Coalition, (ONAC for coalition members); Hamzat Alao Oriyomi South West Professional Forum, (SOWPROF); Bashorun Kunle Adesokan Federation for Yoruba Consciousness and Culture, (FYCC); Dr Kola Afolabi The Covenant Group, (CP); Chief Kunle Oshodi Agbekoya (Solidarity); Chief Jubril Ogundimu- O’odua Republican Front, (ORF); Rasaq Oladosu – Coalition of Oodua Self Determination Groups, (COSEG);
Ahmed Akorede, Apapo O’odua Koya, (AOKOYA) Alhaji Adeyemi Taofik- Oodua Peoples Congress (Reformed); Akin Oloniyi South West Vigilante Groups

Others are Afiz Agunbiade Neighbourhood Anti-Terrorist Group-Registered with CAC); Alhaja Medina Abioro- South West Women Congress, (SWWC); Alhaji Tunde Abioye United Self Determination Groups, (USEPO); Wemi Oritsegbemi Itsekiri National Youth Congress, (INYC); Rasaq Arogundade Oodua Peoples Congress, (OPC-Reformed); Shenge Rahman Oodua Muslim-Christian Dialogue Group, (OMC-DG); Dr Victor Taiwo, Oodua Redemption Alliance, (ORA); Chief Medaye Alatse and Mrs Tunbo Adekola, Union of West African Yoruba Communities, Ghana

Other groups are Nassir Abdul Kalejaye – Nigerian Automobile Technicians Association, NATA-South West;
Sanusi Dave Yoruba Artisan and Traders Association, (YATA-Registered in Nigeria); Akinyemi-Association of Nigerian Artisans and Technicians, (ASNAT); Goke Otunla- Oodua Liberation Movement, (OLM); Ade Ikuesan Motocycle-South West Operators Union of Nigeria, (MOUN); Muftau Ajayi O’odua Hunters Union, (OHUN); O’odua International Democratic Movement, (OIDEM);
South West Students Coalition, (SWSC)
South West Progressive Farmers Congress, (SWPFC); Ahmed Saliu Olokoju, Yoruba Islamic Salvation Front; Chief Ayo Abereoran Okun Peoples Front, (OPF) and Akinwale Kasali Lagos Progressives Development Front, (LPDF)