Iba Gani Adams, the Aare Ona-Kakanfo of Yorubaland, has issued a warning against any attempts to introduce Sharia law in South-West Nigeria. Speaking at the grand finale of the 2025 Oodua Festival in Ile-Ife, Osun State, Adams expressed concern about the potential risks of using religion to create division and unrest in the region.
The warning comes after the Sultan of Sokoto-led Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs publicly supported the idea of establishing Sharia courts in the South-West. Adams, however, emphasized that Sharia law is foreign to the Yoruba people’s culture and beliefs. He cautioned that enforcing Sharia in the region could lead to unnecessary crises that would destabilize the peaceful coexistence of the people in South-West Nigeria.
Adams urged religious fanatics to refrain from using religion as a tool to sow discord and warned that such actions could ignite unnecessary conflicts. He stressed the importance of understanding and respecting cultural differences while promoting unity and peace.
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.”
