By DAYO ADESULU
A strong and unequivocal rejection of Sharia law in South-West Nigeria has been issued by Yoruba socio-political voices, warning that any attempt to introduce the Islamic legal system into the region would threaten family unity, cultural coexistence, and Nigeria’s constitutional secularism.
In a statement dated January 31, 2026, and signed by Comrade Oyegunle Oluwamayowa Omotoyole (Omayor), the Oduduwa Nation Home-Based Youth Leader, the Yoruba people made their position unmistakably clear: Sharia law is neither needed nor wanted as a governing system in the South-West.
The statement was addressed to the Sultan of Sokoto and the leadership of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), urging them to respect the cultural, religious, and philosophical uniqueness of the Yoruba people.
Pluralism at the Heart of Yoruba Society
According to the statement, Yoruba society has, for centuries, thrived on religious pluralism and mutual tolerance. Families across Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ondo, and Ekiti states commonly include Christians, Muslims, and traditional worshippers living peacefully under the same roof.
This deeply interwoven family structure, the statement noted, remains one of the South-West’s greatest strengths.
Introducing Sharia law into such a plural environment, it warned, would place families on a collision course, weaken long-standing bonds, and undermine shared values that have sustained Yoruba communities across generations.
“The Yoruba are not a monolithic religious bloc,” the statement emphasized. “Our identity is rooted in coexistence, tolerance, and respect for difference.”
Faith Should Not Be Enforced by Law
The rejection of Sharia law in South-West Nigeria was further anchored on the principle that faith should remain a personal conviction rather than a political instrument.
The statement questioned the assumption that Muslims must live under Sharia law by force, pointing out that millions of Muslims around the world freely practice their religion in secular and multi-faith societies without imposing religious legal systems.
“Religion should inspire moral conduct, not be weaponized to control diverse populations,” the statement asserted, adding that no faith should be elevated above others within a plural democratic society.
Warning Against Forced Islamisation
The Oduduwa youth leader warned that any direct or indirect attempt to Islamise the South-West against the will of its people would be firmly resisted through lawful and collective means.
While reiterating that Yoruba people are not religious bigots or extremists, the statement stressed that the region would not tolerate policies capable of plunging it into chaos, division, or bloodshed.
Those advocating Sharia governance, it advised, should limit such ambitions to regions where the system is openly accepted by the majority of the population.
“The people of the South-West are not interested,” the statement declared bluntly.
Nigeria’s Secular Constitution at Stake
A major pillar of the rejection of Sharia law in South-West Nigeria is Nigeria’s constitutional identity as a secular state.
The statement argued that implementing Sharia law as a state system directly contradicts the principles of secularism, equal citizenship, and fundamental human rights enshrined in the Nigerian Constitution.
If Nigeria is to remain united, it added, no religious legal framework should be imposed on unwilling populations, as doing so would deepen distrust and widen national fault lines.
Concerns from Sharia-Practicing Regions
Beyond ideology, the statement pointed to the real-world outcomes of Sharia implementation in parts of Northern Nigeria as a cautionary tale.
Among the concerns highlighted were:
Persistent insecurity and terrorism
Banditry and mass kidnapping
Ethnic and religious tensions
Widespread poverty and hunger
High levels of illiteracy
Deep social inequality and segregation
These challenges, the statement argued, cannot be ignored and offer no justification for exporting the system to another region with a different historical and cultural reality.
Appeal for Peaceful Coexistence
In a direct appeal to Muslims living within Oduduwa Yoruba territory, the statement called for collective responsibility in preserving peace and stability in the South-West.
It urged residents not to allow the crises and policy failures of other regions to destabilize their homeland, reminding them that dialogue, tolerance, and mutual respect have always defined the Yoruba way of life.
“The Yoruba way has never been extremism,” the statement said. “It has always been understanding.”
‘Leave Oduduwa Land as It Is’
Concluding with a firm but peaceful message, the statement called on all parties to respect the existing social order in the South-West and allow the region to continue its tradition of harmony.
“Leave the Oduduwa Yoruba land as it is. Let us live in peace,” it concluded, ending with the traditional expression of goodwill, “Ire oooo.”
The statement was signed by Comrade Oyegunle Oluwamayowa Omotoyole (Omayor), reinforcing the growing resistance to any attempt at altering the South-West’s secular and pluralistic foundations.
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