The Aare Ona-Kakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Adams, has warned against the use of religion to ”cause crisis and disharmony in Yorubaland,’ after the Sultan of Sokoto-led Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, on Wednesday, January 29, threw its weight behind the push to establish Sharia courts in South-West states.
According to Gani, Sharia law is alien to Yoruba culture and beliefs.
Speaking at the grand finale of the 2025 Oodua Festival held in Ile-Ife, Osun State, Adams warned against exploiting Sharia enforcement to plunge South West into avoidable crises.
He said, “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 destabilise Yorubaland.
“Those religious fanatics masquerading as Muslims should stay away from acts that could set Yorubaland on fire.”
“Nigeria is a secular nation where the constitution allows every citizen to practice whatever religion they believe in freely without any intimidation.
“Unfortunately, the Sharia law, as practised in the North, has become a tool for politics and intimidation. Yorubaland is never a Sharia region. The Yoruba is also a multi-religious ethnic nationality.
“We have Muslims, Christians, and the traditional religion believers among us, and we have been living together peacefully without any religious crisis. We have also been practising our different religions as allowed by the Nigerian Constitution. Therefore, nobody would be allowed to use religion as tools to cause religious crisis and disharmony in Yorubaland. Sharia law is alien to our culture and religious beliefs in Yorubaland.
“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 Yoruba land on fire.”