back to top
More

    Shari’ah: Yoruba Group Warn of Potential Chaos in Southwest

    Share

    In an urgent call for peace, Yoruba elders have voiced their staunch opposition to the recent announcement of a Shari’ah court set to be inaugurated in Oyo town. The decision, backed by the Supreme Council for Shari’ah in Nigeria, has sparked strong condemnation from a collective of influential Yoruba leaders, who warn that it could disrupt the long-standing harmony of Yorubaland.

    Gathering in Ibadan, the leaders, representing the Yoruba Regional Alliance (YRA), issued a public statement, which described the move as a “grave threat” to the region’s cultural fabric. The alliance, led by Com. Opeoluwa Akinola, expressed concerns that the establishment of a Shari’ah court could spark widespread unrest and disrupt the socio-political peace that the southwest has enjoyed for centuries.

    “This is not just an issue of religious imposition; this is about preserving the peaceful coexistence that we have strived to maintain in this region,” Akinola stated at a press briefing at the Nigeria Union of Journalists’ Press Centre in Ibadan. “Yoruba people have thrived on a foundation of tolerance, accepting diverse faiths including Islam, Christianity, and traditional Yoruba beliefs.”

    The controversy centers around the recent move to introduce a Shari’ah court system in Oyo State, one of the heartlands of Yoruba culture and history. While the court’s proponents argue that it offers a path for Islamic legal matters to be addressed in a manner consistent with Shari’ah principles, the Yoruba elders fear it will disrupt centuries of peaceful coexistence among religious groups in the region.

    Akinola highlighted the alarming implications for social unity, insisting that such an initiative could undermine the rich cultural heritage of Yorubaland. “We cannot allow external ideologies to undermine the values that have bound our people together for generations,” he added.

    Related Posts

    Historically, Yoruba resistance to external religious impositions has been well-documented, with the elders referencing past incidents where the region successfully fended off religious incursions. The most notable of these events was the defeat of the Fulani jihad at Osogbo in 1840, where Yoruba forces united to repel an invading army that sought to impose its religious and political system upon the region. The victory, which preserved the traditional power structure of the Yoruba kingdom, remains a defining moment in the region’s collective identity.

    “The Fulani jihad was not just a military battle, but a fight to preserve our cultural identity,” said Chief Oladipo Ojo, a prominent historian and elder of the region. “Had the outcome been different, it is possible that today our Obas (traditional rulers) would have been replaced by Emirs, and the Yoruba people would have lost their autonomy.”

    The Yoruba Regional Alliance has argued that the current Shari’ah court proposal is part of a broader agenda by Islamic groups from the north to impose a version of Islam that, according to the elders, promotes violence and intolerance, which is out of step with the peaceful and inclusive nature of Yoruba society. The alliance maintains that this move, if allowed to proceed, could lead to division and potentially escalate tensions between different religious and ethnic groups.

    “We are not against Islam or any religion. Our concern is that this system of governance is alien to our cultural and social values. The introduction of a Shari’ah court is an imposition that will create more division than unity,” Akinola stated. “The Yoruba people have a long history of accommodating various faiths, but we must not allow that tradition to be hijacked by forces that do not respect our way of life.”

    The YRA has further called on local leaders to take a firm stand against what they perceive as an external imposition on Yoruba land. They are urging Oyo State government officials to reject the Shari’ah court initiative in favor of preserving the region’s cultural cohesion.

    Local political figures have echoed the sentiments of the elders, warning of potential unrest if the Shari’ah court system is introduced. Hon. Adebayo Salami, a member of the Oyo State House of Assembly, expressed concern that the move could inflame existing tensions between religious groups and lead to violent clashes. “Oyo State has made great strides in terms of development and social stability. We must not allow any ideology to jeopardize this progress,” Salami said.

    Yoruba leaders have also pointed to the failure of previous attempts to introduce Shari’ah law in the southwest, stressing that such efforts were consistently met with resistance. They argue that the region’s diverse religious and cultural makeup has fostered a spirit of unity and tolerance that has allowed the Yoruba people to thrive both socially and economically.

    The elders of the YRA have emphasized that this is not a battle between Islam and traditional Yoruba religion, but a defense of the region’s autonomy and cultural values. “Yorubaland is not a battleground for foreign agendas,” Akinola warned. “We must stand firm in our resolve to preserve the peace, unity, and cultural heritage that have been passed down through generations.”

    The group also appealed to the federal government, urging it to intervene in the matter before the situation escalates. They called for a national conversation on the importance of maintaining religious and cultural harmony across Nigeria, highlighting the potential for conflict if such divisive initiatives are allowed to proceed unchecked.

    Read more

    Local News