•Sharia panel
Controversy has trailed the inauguration of the Independent Shari’ah Arbitration Panel in Ekiti State, with various groups and individuals expressing opposition to the move.
The Yoruba Regional Alliance worldwide, in collaboration with other Yoruba self-determination organisations, staged a peaceful protest in Ado Ekiti, the state capital today, condemning the inauguration of the panel, reports The Nation.
The protesters were armed with placards with various inscriptions such as “No to Sharia in Yorubaland”, “Sharia will cause war” and “Sharia is a constitutional blunder” among others.
However, they were prevented from moving round the streets as planned by the police in order to avoid possible crisis.
Addressing journalists, the leader of the Yoruba Regional Alliance Worldwide, Mr Opeoluwa Akinola, alleged that the introduction of Sharia law in Yorubaland was an attempt to cause chaos and disharmony.
Akinola noted that the Yoruba people irrespective of their religions, have co-existed peacefully for generations without the sharia penal code wondering what the Sharia law introduction is going to achieve that the existing penal codes and legal systems in Yoruba land cannot.
He said: “We totally reject and condemn the proposed inauguration, while calling on the Ekiti State Government and relevant authorities to forestall the impending catastrophe by immediately putting a stop to any further preparations by the Supreme Council for Shari’ah in Nigeria to inaugurate the Sharia pannel in Ekiti state and in any other part of Yoruba land.
“What positive advantage has Sharia contributed to the economy and wellbeing of the indigenous of the 12 northern states where it’s been practiced? the affected states are still been overwhelmed with poverty, out of school children insecurity and child molestation.
“For decades, Muslims from the north of Nigeria have been attempting to export their brand of political Islam which allegedly espouses violence, intolerance, Jihad and the anachronistic Sharia Islamic code into Yorubaland.
“We call on all Yoruba Muslim organisations, Christian Associations, Isese and other Ibile traditional worshipers and Ifa adherents to come out in virulent condemnation of the move as they want to cause a schism in the age old harmonious relationships between all our people in Yoruba land.
The chairman, Yoruba Nation Religious Council (YONAREC), Comr. Oluwafemi Edafemi, expressed the group opposition to the introduction of the Islamic legal system known as Sharia into Yoruba land.
Edafemi said that the proposal, allegedly being championed by external religious fanatics from the North Nigeria, with the collaboration of a few Yoruba Muslims, is not a representative of the cultural heritage of the Yoruba people.
He called on all Yoruba people to resist the imposition of sharia panel and stand firm in protecting the unity, culture and freedom of the Yoruba Nation.
