A Yoruba sociocultural group has responded to the Sultan of Sokoto’s comments on Sharia law, emphatically stating that the Islamic legal code has no place in Yoruba society. The group argued that Sharia law has exacerbated suffering in northern states where it is implemented, and therefore should not be extended to Yoruba territories. This statement highlights the deep-seated cultural and religious differences between Nigeria’s northern and southwestern regions, sparking a renewed debate about the role of Sharia law in the country’s multicultural society.

The Yoruba people have expressed strong opposition to the implementation of Sharia law in their region, citing its incompatibility with their cultural and societal values.

According to the Society for Yoruba Culture Renaissance, the introduction of Sharia panels in southwestern states such as Oyo and Ekiti would undermine the harmonious coexistence among people of diverse faiths, potentially sparking unnecessary tensions and conflicts.

In a statement released to the public on Thursday, the indigenous Yoruba people strongly rejected the imposition of Sharia law, stating that it is incompatible with their cultural heritage and poses a significant threat to the peaceful coexistence of people from diverse religious backgrounds.

SaharaReporters had reported that the Independent Sharia Arbitration Panel in Ekiti State recently held its first public sitting at the popular Oja Oba Central Mosque, Ado-Ekiti.

The Ekiti State Government had reacted to that by stating that the existing legal structure in the state does not recognise Sharia Court or Independent Sharia Arbitration Panel.

However, the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), led by the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, argued that the Sharia panel initiative is legal, as it is provided for in the 1999 Constitution (as amended) of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Section 275).

NSCIA, therefore, urged the governors and traditional authorities in the southern part of the country to preserve and protect the constitutional rights of Muslims in their respective domains.

The Sultan-led group also emphasised that Muslims should be allowed to practise their faith without hindrance, just like other religious groups.

In response, the Society for Yoruba Culture Renaissance emphasised that Sharia law is an Arabic cultural practice suitable for societies with a dominant Muslim population, which is not the case in Yorubaland. 

The group also accused the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, of attempting to incite a religious crisis in southwestern Nigeria by advocating for the implementation of Sharia law in the region.

The group wrote: “Our attention has been drawn to the misguided press release by the Nigeria Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs.

“Since Yoruba Afenifere, the pan-Yoruba group, has refused to respond to such a divisive play by the Sultan of Sokoto that is capable of causing religious crisis in Yorubaland, our group, the Society for Yoruba Culture Renaissance, has taken it upon ourselves to respond to such a disrespectful press release.

“The Yoruba people firmly reject the imposition of Sharia law or any Sharia panel in Yorubaland. Sharia law is alien to our society, as it is an Arabic cultural practice suited for societies with over 80% Muslim population. Yorubaland has a rich history of traditional values, culture, and language that we hold dear.

“Our ‘Omoluabi’ ethos is sacrosanct, and it is this ethos that has ensured peaceful coexistence among Yoruba people of different religious beliefs for over 300 years. Unlike the frequent religious crises in Sokoto and other Sharia states in Northern Nigeria, Yorubaland has remained peaceful.

“The Sultan of Sokoto, as the title implies, is the Sultan of Sokoto, and his emirate does not include Yorubaland. Islam has existed in Yorubaland for centuries, and Yoruba Muslims have never been marginalised or denied their rights. Claims of preventing students from wearing hijab are false and serve only to blackmail the peace-loving Yoruba people.

“We reject any attempt to disguise the invasion or eradication of our culture and values. The Usman Danfodio Jihad eroded the culture of the Hausas, and we do not want the same to happen in our society. Yoruba people will settle their internal issues independently and focus on addressing the myriads of issues affecting our communities.

“The Sharia law practised in the north has not added value to the society but has exacerbated the suffering of the people. We call attention to the origins of Boko Haram and other terrorist groups, which began with the implementation of Sharia law. We do not want such destabilization in our society.

“Yoruba is an ethnic nation with a unique culture, and we will not allow Arab culture to erode ours. In Yorubaland, people of the same parents practice different religions and coexist peacefully, a situation not often seen in Northern society.

“We want this harmony to continue in the Southwest, so we reject any attempt to impose Sharia law that could sever relationships between family members.”

“Keep Sharia law in Sokoto and other Northern states. Yorubaland will maintain its peaceful nature and uphold its cultural values,” the group added.