The announcement of the establishment of a Shari’ah court in Oyo town has raised serious concerns among Yoruba elders, who fear it could threaten the peace and stability of Yorubaland.
The Yoruba elders on the platform of “Yoruba Regional Alliance (YRA),” yesterday in Ibadan, issued a strong condemnation of the move, labelling it a direct threat to the harmony and cultural fabric of the southwest region.
The planned introduction of the Shari’ah Court, organised by the Supreme Council for Shari’ah in Nigeria, has triggered alarm among Yoruba elders, who fear it could ignite chaos and disrupt the longstanding peace that has characterised Yorubaland.
Speaking during press a press conference held at the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ Press Centre, Iyaganku, Ibadan, the leader of the group, Com. Opeoluwa Akinola stated that the planned introduction could incite unrest and conflict in Oyo State.
He noted that “This is an insidious move to disrupt the progress and pace of development that Oyo State is experiencing,” urging for the initiative’s total cancellation.
“The Yoruba people have a long-standing tradition of religious tolerance, coexisting peacefully with diverse faiths, including Christianity, Islam, and traditional Yoruba beliefs.”
The elders stressed that the rich cultural heritage of Yorubaland has been maintained for generations, and they viewed the introduction of a Shari’ah court as a grave threat to the balance.
Citing historical context, the YRA reminded the public of past attempts to impose Shari’ah law in Yorubaland, which have been met with resistance.
“For decades, Muslims from the north have sought to export a brand of Islam that promotes violence and intolerance,” they declared. The elders argue that this does not reflect the values of the Yoruba people.”
The alliance also referenced the historical defeat of the Fulani jihad at Osogbo in 1840, where a coalition of Yoruba forces successfully resisted a significant upheaval.
“Had this conflict turned in favour of the Fulani, our Obas would have been replaced by Emirs,” they warned, underscoring the importance of this historical event in shaping Yoruba identity.
The YRA spoke not just for a few but represented a collective voice of the Yoruba people who are united against 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,” the group emphasised.
YRA, however, called for swift action from local leaders, urging them to prioritise the preservation of peace and social harmony.
“The mantra of ‘To bury the Quran and the Jihad sword in the sea’ must be a guiding principle for our leaders,” they insisted.
