The Chief Imam of Yorubaland, Sheik Abdulraheem Aduanigba, has asserted that implementing Sharia law in the South West region of Nigeria is impossible. He emphasized that any attempt to introduce it in the six states of the region could lead to serious conflict.
In a widely circulated video, Sheik Aduanigba explained that the religious composition of Yorubaland makes the application of Sharia impractical.
According to him, the region is home to three major religious groups—Christianity, Islam, and traditional religion. He warned that imposing Sharia law on Christians, who number about 27 million, and traditional worshippers, who total 10 million, could fuel disunity and chaos.
The cleric stressed that since Muslims do not form an overwhelming majority in the region, introducing Sharia would be an invitation to unrest. He pointed out that the social and religious dynamics in the South West differ significantly from those in northern Nigeria, where Sharia law is already in practice.
Sheik Aduanigba’s position stands in direct contrast to that of the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III, who has publicly supported the idea of Sharia being implemented in the South West.
Explaining his stance, the Chief Imam stated: “Sharia cannot work in Yorubaland because our general language is Yoruba. When we talk of Yoruba, there are three distinct religions. Our original religion in Yorubaland is a traditional religion before the advent of Christianity. When Christianity came, it gave birth to Islam. In Yorubaland today, we have 27 million Christians, 23 million Muslims, and 10 million traditional worshippers.”
He further elaborated on why the introduction of Sharia would contradict the existing legal and cultural systems of the region. “In Yorubaland today, there are 972 traditional rulers. So, if we say we should introduce Sharia, it will contradict the system we have been using in our own law.”
Highlighting the cultural and religious diversity in the region, he pointed out that Yoruba people celebrate different festivals according to their beliefs. “We, in the South West, are aware that some of us celebrate masquerade festivals; some mark Christmas and Easter; some celebrate Ramadan and Ileya. So, if some of us in Yoruba decide to use Sharia, Sharia means women should cover their heads and we will start quarrelling with women who don’t cover their heads; those who drink alcoholic drinks, Sharia will frown at them. Yorubaland can’t allow such a system.”
Sheik Aduanigba also questioned the economic implications of Sharia law, noting that many revenue-generating activities in the South West, such as alcohol sales and hospitality businesses, are incompatible with Sharia principles. He stated: “Sharia cannot work and the reason is that the money generated from breweries in Lagos is the money given to the North who practice Sharia; the internally generated revenue from hotels where there are commercial sex workers is given to the North who cannot allow such things. That’s why I’m happy with the Tax Reform Bill that President Tinubu initiated that each state should be given the fair share of its IGR. So, that’s why Sharia cannot work in Yorubaland if we don’t want to cause war.”
He warned that enforcing Sharia could spark conflicts over issues such as dress codes and public behavior. “It could cause war when someone wears knicker (shorts) on the road and Muslims pick her up because she has flouted Sharia. It’s not that it is only we Muslims that dominate Yorubaland.”
The Chief Imam further described Sharia as a northern agenda, stating that it is being introduced gradually under the guise of settling marital disputes. He expressed concerns that its application in inheritance matters would create divisions within Yoruba families.
“Sharia is an agenda by the North. What they want to do is to first use Sharia to settle marital crisis, they are deceiving us. Thereafter, they will say whoever wants to share their inheritance in the Muslim way should do so. If they apply that, in Yorubaland, a father may have children who are both Christians, Muslims and traditional religion worshippers.”
Providing an example, he explained how a Muslim father’s estate might be distributed under Sharia, excluding children who converted to Christianity. “So, if a father who is a Muslim dies and some of his children have converted to Christians, in Yorubaland, all of them will have access to the inheritance. But, if they apply Sharia, the Sharia Court will say, since the child has left Islam, he is not entitled to the inheritance of his father who died as a Muslim. Therefore, Sharia cannot work in Yorubaland if we don’t want to ignite war,” he concluded.
