The Aare Ona-Kakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Adams, has expressed strong disapproval of the recent backing by the Sultan of Sokoto-led Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs for the establishment of Sharia courts in the South-West region.
Speaking at the grand finale of the 2025 Oodua Festival in Ile-Ife, Osun State, Adams criticized the move, stating that Sharia law is foreign to the Yoruba culture and values.
He warned against the potential for religious conflict, emphasizing the importance of maintaining the peaceful, multi-religious coexistence that has long characterized the region.
“Some religious fundamentalists now see Yorubaland as their target for destruction. But I want to assure you all that we will not allow religious fanatics and fundamentalists to destabilize Yorubaland,” Adams declared to the audience.
He further stressed that Yorubaland has always embraced diversity, with a harmonious blend of Muslims, Christians, and adherents of traditional religions.
He reiterated that the region has been free of religious crises and must remain so.
“Yorubaland is never a Sharia region,” Adams firmly stated, affirming that Yoruba people have coexisted peacefully under the Nigerian Constitution, which guarantees religious freedom.
Adams also expressed his concerns over the potential misuse of religion for political purposes, referencing how Sharia law has sometimes been wielded as a tool for intimidation in northern Nigeria.
He urged that such practices should not be allowed to spread to the South-West.
“This is a secular nation where the constitution allows every citizen to practice whatever religion they believe in freely without any intimidation,” Adams continued, adding that Sharia law has no place in the South-West.
“When some religious bigots decided to enforce their religious beliefs on the people, it becomes a major crisis. Therefore, those religious fanatics masquerading as Muslims should stay away from acts that could set Yorubaland on fire.”