Yoruba Elders Stand United Against Shari’ah Law Introduction in Oyo
The announcement of the inauguration of a Shari’ah court in Oyo town has ignited significant alarm among Yoruba elders, who are voicing strong concerns over the potential threat it poses to peace and unity in Yorubaland. The Yoruba elders, speaking through the Yoruba Regional Alliance (YRA), issued a stern condemnation of the move during a press conference in Ibadan, labeling it a direct challenge to the cultural and social harmony that has defined the southwest region.
The Shari’ah court, organized by the Supreme Council for Shari’ah in Nigeria, has triggered widespread opposition from the YRA, which fears that its establishment could lead to unrest and disrupt the long-standing peace in Oyo State. Com. Opeoluwa Akinola, the leader of the alliance, emphasized that the introduction of the court could undermine the progress and development Oyo State has made. He called for the immediate cancellation of the initiative, describing it as an “insidious move” aimed at destabilizing the region.
“The Yoruba people have a deep tradition of religious tolerance,” Akinola said, noting that the community has long coexisted peacefully with diverse faiths, including Christianity, Islam, and indigenous beliefs. “We have maintained our cultural heritage for generations, and we see this move as a grave threat to that balance.”
The elders further referenced the region’s history, reminding the public of previous attempts to impose Shari’ah law in Yorubaland, all of which were met with strong resistance. The YRA underscored that the form of Islam being promoted by some northern Muslims is associated with violence and intolerance, which they argued is at odds with Yoruba values.
The alliance also invoked the historical defeat of the Fulani jihad at Osogbo in 1840, where a coalition of Yoruba forces successfully repelled an attack that would have replaced local Obas with Emirs. “Had the Fulani succeeded, our leaders would have been replaced,” they warned, pointing to this historical event as a crucial moment in shaping the identity and autonomy of the Yoruba people.
The YRA positioned itself not as a fringe group, but as the collective voice of the Yoruba people, united in opposition to what they perceived as an external imposition of ideologies that threaten their way of life. “We cannot allow our land to become a battleground for agendas that do not align with our values,” they declared.
In response to the unfolding situation, the alliance called for swift action from local leaders, urging them to prioritize the preservation of peace and social harmony in the region. They concluded their statement by stressing the need for leaders to embrace the guiding principle: “To bury the Quran and the Jihad sword in the sea,” underscoring their commitment to upholding peace and unity in Yorubaland.