…Sharia is Foreign to Yoruba Culture – Gani Adams
The President-General of the Nigeria Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) and Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, has voiced his support for the establishment of an Independent Shariah Arbitration Panel in Ekiti and Oyo states.
However, the Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, Gani Adams, has strongly opposed the move, arguing that Sharia is alien to Yoruba traditions and religious beliefs.
The Sultan, who is also the spiritual leader of Nigeria’s Muslims, raised concerns about religious intolerance and the denial of Muslim rights in the southern region, particularly the absence of a Shariah Court of Appeal. In a statement by the NSCIA’s Deputy National Legal Adviser, Haroun Eze, he criticized the resistance from political and traditional institutions against the proposed arbitration panel in Ekiti. He noted that the recent plan to establish a similar panel in Oyo was met with widespread opposition, leading to its indefinite postponement.
“The Independent Arbitration Panel is a voluntary platform designed to handle civil and marital disputes among consenting Muslims. It seeks to address the failure of South West political leaders to establish Sharia courts, as permitted by the Nigerian Constitution, despite the large Muslim population in the region,” the Sultan said.
He also condemned what he described as deliberate attempts to suppress Islamic practices, citing the continued opposition to the use of Hijab by female Muslim students despite a Supreme Court ruling in their favor.
Speaking at the 2025 Oodua Festival in Ile-Ife, Osun State, Gani Adams accused religious fundamentalists of attempting to destabilize Yoruba land by introducing Sharia. He emphasized that while Sharia law aligns with religious teachings in Islamic nations like Saudi Arabia, Nigeria remains a secular country where freedom of religion is constitutionally protected.
“Saudi Arabia is an Islamic kingdom where Sharia law aligns with their faith and way of life. But Nigeria is a secular nation where people are free to practice any religion. Sharia law has no place in Yoruba culture and religious traditions. Those pushing for it should refrain from actions that could ignite unrest in our region,” Adams said.
He also expressed concerns over the growing presence of Islamic State’s West Africa Province (ISWAP) in the South West and urged both federal and state governments to intensify efforts to combat insecurity. Additionally, he reaffirmed the readiness of the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) to collaborate with other security groups to protect Yoruba land.
