A coalition of 29 pan-Yoruba groups has rejected the planned introduction of Sharia law in Yoruba lands, warning that its introduction cannot improve the economic, political, social and cultural deficit in the region, but instead inflicts poverty, corruption, high mortality rate and terrorism. , violence and unprecedented human misery that had characterized the northern states of the country where the law had been in practice.
It may be recalled that a group of Muslims are planning to commission Sharia panels in Oyo and Ekiti states, which is currently opposed by different interest groups.
The coalition expressed this position in a signed statement, titled: “Historical position of Pan-Yoruba groups on Sharia law and Yorubaland”, a copy of which was made available to journalists in Lagos, saying that the planned introduction was a “plot to destabilize Yorubaland.” through the organized sponsorship of divisive, regressive and dangerous proposals that will end up causing confusion, disunity and raising the specter of an intra-Yoruba conflict to the delight of our eternal enemies.”
The coalition, while noting that Islam is a religion of peace and that Yoruba Muslims were proud of the place of Islam in the sustainable development of the region, said, however, as true representatives of the Yoruba people, that they strongly opposed the introduction of Sharia anywhere. of Oduduwaland, including Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ekiti, Delta, Kogi, Edo, Kwara and Ondo states, maintaining that Sharia is not feasible and can never be acceptable to a multi-religious society and multi-religious people like the Yoruba.
According to him, Sharia is only applicable in societies where Islam is the state religion or the majority of people profess Islam, and states that the claim made by its proponents that the law was only for Muslims cannot be sustained because ” The contradictions are self-evident.
“We clearly declare that the introduction of Sharia cannot ameliorate the economic, political, social and cultural deficit in Yorubaland.
“That Yoruba land, although seen as the most economically developed territory in West Africa, achieved this feat not through theocracy but thanks to the hard work, commitment and determination of our ancestors who were Muslims, Christians and traditional worshipers .
“That we observe a conscious and tailor-made plot to destabilize Yorubaland through the organized sponsorship of divisive, regressive and dangerous proposals that will end up causing confusion, disunity and raising the specter of intra-Yoruba conflict to the delight of our eternal enemies.
“We, the true representatives of the Yoruba people, firmly oppose the introduction of Sharia in any part of Oduduwaland of Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ekiti, Delta, Kogi, Edo, Kwara and Ondo.
“Such Sharia is not feasible and can never be acceptable to a multi-religious and multi-religious people like the Yoruba; Sharia is only applicable in societies where Islam is the state religion or the majority of people profess Islam.
“Although defenders of Sharia claim that the law is only for Muslims, the contradictions are evident. The Yoruba are united by blood, history, common fear and shared aspirations, not by religion,” the coalition stated.
“How can anyone in their right mind conceive of Sharia 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 the mosque and Yoruba Christian parents whose children are Baba or Iyalawo.
“This freedom of faith that has enriched Yoruba civilization for centuries is what religious extremists, rabid and unbridled fanatics and religious anarchists, sponsored by international terrorists, are desperate to destroy, fortunately, at their own risk, when the time comes. moment,” he added. .
Furthermore, the coalition maintained its opposition to the planned introduction of Sharia law, saying its proponents' aim was to destabilize the South West and uproot the very foundations of democracy under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, after having destabilized the North.
He alleged that the intrigue was political and sponsored by vested interests, aimed at polarizing the political and electoral fortunes of the Yoruba nation which for many years had largely defined a common political future, saying that no great nation would wish to have different laws for its own laws. people of the same history and the same heritage.
“We hereby warn religious fanatics and extremists, including very naive and superficial political actors, to desist from their evil plots or face the full wrath of the Yoruba people,” the coalition warned.