The Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, has lent his support to the creation of an Independent Shariah Arbitration Panel in Ekiti and Oyo states.
The proposal has ignited heated opposition from Gani Adams, the Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, who argues that Sharia law is incompatible with the culture and religion of the Yoruba people.
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The dispute centers on issues of religious tolerance and the rights of Muslims in Nigeria’s South West.
Sultan Abubakar voiced concerns about growing intolerance towards Muslims, highlighting the denial of their constitutional right to a Shariah Court of Appeal in the region. He emphasized that the proposed arbitration panel would offer a voluntary forum for resolving civil and marital disputes among consenting Muslims, providing an alternative to the formal legal system.
However, Adams has vehemently opposed the initiative, warning that introducing Sharia law in the region could destabilize Yoruba land and fuel religious tensions. He pointed out that Nigeria’s secular constitution guarantees freedom of religion, making Sharia law irrelevant to the Yoruba culture.
The controversy has also raised national security concerns, with Adams calling for more action from both federal and state governments to tackle insecurity in the South West.
The Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) has pledged to collaborate with other security groups to address the region’s security challenges.
