The Yoruba Nation Youths, both in Nigeria and the diaspora, have warned the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, against advocating for the establishment of Sharia courts in the southwest.
In a joint statement, Prophet Ayodele Ologunloluwa, Yoruba National Youth Leader (Diaspora), and Comrade Oyegunle Oluwamayowa Omotoyole, Homebase Leader, condemned what they described as an attempt by the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) to impose Sharia law in the region, warning that such a move could threaten stability.
They characterized the push for Sharia courts as part of a broader agenda to “enslave and conquer” the Yoruba people. “We categorically reject Sharia law or courts in Yoruba Land.
This scheme is both hypocritical and incompatible with our culture, traditions, and way of life,” the statement declared.
The youth leaders called on traditional rulers and governors in the South-West to resist the proposal and remain vigilant against any attempts to manipulate them into supporting it.
Their statement was issued in response to a press release by the Deputy National Legal Adviser of the NSCIA, Imam Haroun Muhammad Eze, dated January 29, 2025. Eze had advocated for the establishment of Sharia Arbitration Panels in Ekiti, Oyo, and other South-West states, citing Section 275 of the 1999 Constitution, which provides for Sharia Courts of Appeal alongside Customary Courts of Appeal.
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The Yoruba youths dismissed this justification as “laughable” and “suicidal,” stating that such a move would destabilize the region and lead to unrest.
They argued that the 12 Northern states where Sharia law is practiced have become characterized by poverty, corruption, terrorism, and instability. “Yoruba Land is distinct from the North, and Sharia law contradicts our culture and tradition,” they emphasized.
The youths warned that any attempt to establish Sharia courts in the South-West would be seen as a call for civil unrest. “We will resist it with our last blood. Sharia is alien to our culture, and it has no place in Yoruba Land.”
They urged the Governors and Traditional Rulers of the region to stand firm against the NSCIA’s proposal, stressing that peace and development in Yoruba Land must not be compromised.
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