The Yoruba One Voice (YOV), led by the Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Adams, has firmly rejected efforts to introduce Sharia law in the South-West, warning that such a move could destabilize the region and further strain Nigeria’s delicate pluralism.
This position was made clear in a communique issued at the end of YOV’s international virtual conference, themed “Sharia Law in Yorubaland: Setting Things Straight through Restructuring.” The conference, presided over by Gani Adams in his capacity as YOV Convener, brought together members of the YOV Global Coordinating Council, the General Assembly, key stakeholders, and Yoruba leaders in the diaspora.
The communique stressed that the only sustainable path toward peaceful coexistence and national development lies in regional autonomy and a comprehensive restructuring of the Nigerian federation.
Participants at the conference warned that if political leaders continue to resist genuine federalism, the Yoruba people might have no choice but to consider full political independence.
Speaking during the event, Adams criticized attempts to introduce Sharia in Yoruba territory, describing them as politically motivated moves aimed at “weaponizing religion.”
“Sharia law will not improve our economy, governance, or cultural wellbeing,” Adams stated. “Instead, it could disrupt the peace in Yorubaland, lure our youths into violence, and create crises like those in other regions.”
The conference issued several key recommendations, including calls for constitutional amendments to decentralize power, reduce federal overreach, and empower local governments. It emphasized that any religious legal system must remain voluntary, civil in nature, and fully compliant with human rights protections.
Delivering the keynote lecture, Prof. Oluwafemi Obayori acknowledged the historical roots of Islamic law in parts of Yorubaland, such as Ilorin, but warned that recent efforts to expand Sharia panels amounted to a “cultural invasion” rather than a genuine religious revival.
He pointed out that the proliferation of unregulated Sharia tribunals, the marginalization of Yoruba traditional practices, and the suppression of indigenous festivals like Isese posed a serious threat to the region’s cultural identity and national unity.
Echoing his views, YOV technical adviser Prof. Kolawole Raheem said Yoruba Muslims should have access to faith-based dispute resolution if they desire, but such mechanisms must never override Nigeria’s secular legal framework or infringe on the rights of non-Muslims.
He also warned against replicating the northern model of political Sharia, which, since 1999, has led to systemic discrimination against non-Muslims.
YOV Secretary General, Prince Adedokun Ademiluyi, called for strategic alliances with other ethnic nationalities — particularly in the Middle Belt and South-South — to collectively push for regional autonomy and constitutional reform. He also emphasized the need to strengthen community policing and regional security networks to prevent infiltration under the guise of religious enforcement.
The conference concluded with a strong call for peaceful resistance against what it described as the creeping influence of religious extremism in Nigeria’s secular and culturally diverse society.
Notable attendees included Akogun Olakanye Franklin, Iyalode Abike Ade, Chief Mark Oyetunde, Ms. Modupe Sodimu, Yeyeluwa Alice Eniola, Yeye Oge Tina Atinuke, Chief Gani Wahab, Prince Adedapo Adesanmi, and Princess Adenike Olotu, among others.
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