The pan Yoruba groups have kicked against the introduction of Sharia Law in the South-west by its proponents, describing it as a plot to destabilise the region.
In a statement issued Sunday and jointly signed in behalf of the 29 groups by Alliance for Yoruba Democratic Movements (AYDM), Tajudeen Olowo; O’odua Nationalist Coalition, Olu Sulaiman, South West Professional Forum, Hamzat Oriyomi, among others said they would not allow the introduction of Sharia in the region.
The groups were of the opinion that the introduction of Sharia cannot improve the economic, political, social and cultural deficit in Yorubaland.
They added that though the region seen as the most economically developed territory in West Africa, attained this feat not through theocracy but by the hard work, commitment, determination of the forefathers who were both Muslims, Christians and Traditional worshipers.
They added that poverty, misery, lack of access to good health, increasing number of school drop outs, lack of access to economic and political powers by poor Yoruba people, are direct results of poor, visionless and irresponsible leadership which the introduction of Sharia cannot and would not curb.
The groups emphasised that poverty, corruption, high mortality rate, terrorism, violence and unprecedented human misery characterise the 12 States where Sharia has been introduced in the North.
They said: “Zamfara state for instance has 74 per cent poverty rate while Katsina has 74.1 per cent poverty rate. In fact, Sokoto, the headquarters of the Caliphate which also operates Sharia has the highest poverty rate in Nigeria at 79.9 per cent.
“While the Sharia States have the poorest of the poor, the political leaders that introduced Sharia in these States are some of the richest people in the world.
“The Sharia States are currently theatres of war, strife, killings and kidnapping driven by crisis of faith while the Sharia States also have the highest rate of instability in Nigeria.
“This is the dream of the tiny clique that wishes to Islamise/ Talibanise Yoruba Nation; they often learn nothing from History, until their self-destruction is evident.”
The groups added that the hypocritical aspect of Sharia in these States is the bias implementation of the law whereby the rich continue to exploit the poor, steal billions of Naira and go scot free, while the poor and the impoverished who steal fowl have their hands chopped off.
They noted: “That we observe a conscious and tailor-made plot to destabilise Yorubaland through organised sponsorship of divisive, retrogressive and dangerous proposals that will end up causing confusion, disunity and raise the spectre of intra-Yoruba conflict to the delight of our eternal foes;
“That Sharia is not feasible and can never be acceptable to a multi-religious, multi-faith people like the Yoruba; Sharia is only applicable in societies where Islam is the State Religion or majority of the people profess Islam.
“Though proponents of Sharia claim the law is for only Muslims, but the contradictions are self evident. The Yoruba are bound by blood, history, common fear and shared aspirations, not by religion.
“That introduction of Sharia in Yorubaland will never be accepted to our people.
“Having destabilised the North, the proponents want to destabilise the South West and uproot the very foundation of democracy under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“The intrigue is political, sponsored by vested interests, aimed at polarising the political and electoral fortunes of Yoruba Nation who for many Years have largely defined a common political future.”