The Yoruba Nation Self-Determination Movement has criticized Sultan of Sokoto, Sultan Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III’s recent suggestion to implement Sharia law in Yorubaland, calling it “disrespectful.” In a statement signed by its leader, Professor Banji Akintoye, the group argued that there is no Islamic mandate for Yoruba Muslims to recognize the Sultan as their leader.
The statement further highlighted that the Sultan’s claim that Yoruba Muslims are being denied their religious rights is false. It urged the Fulani nation to reassess its stance on religious and political issues in Nigeria, warning of the risks associated with their “born-to-rule” mentality and emphasizing the importance of mutual respect.
Part of the statement reads: “We Yoruba people have read your statement that was sent to the public through the Deputy National Adviser of the Nigeria Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs, Imam Haroun Eze, following the failed attempt to impose Sharia Courts on the Oyo and Ekiti States of the Yoruba people of the Nigerian Southwest. Since your spokesperson, Imam Haroun Eze, made your statement to the public, we also hereby make our response public.”
The Yoruba movement accused the Sultan’s spokesperson of presenting the Sultan’s statement as though he is the “overlord” of the Yoruba. According to the group, the statement implied that the Yoruba people must accept Sharia law as directed by the Sultan. While acknowledging respect for the Sultan as a traditional ruler, the movement noted that Yoruba traditional rulers, or Obas, hold significant importance within the Yoruba nation.
Due to the tone of the Sultan’s statement, the Yoruba group said it felt compelled to clarify its stance, affirming the Yoruba nation’s independence and dignity. It stressed that Yoruba Muslims do not recognize the Sultan as their religious leader.
“The Sultan’s message claims that the Sultan is the head of the Islamic religion in Nigeria. Well, while our Yoruba Muslims faithfully surrender their lives to the Almighty God Allah and fully exalt Allah’s great Prophet Mohammed, most do not know the Sultan as their leader.”
The statement continued by explaining that no Islamic tenet obligates Yoruba Muslims to follow the Sultan of Sokoto. Yoruba people, regardless of religious affiliation, revere their own traditional rulers, such as the Ooni of Ife and the Alaafin of Oyo, who are regarded as the foremost royal leaders of the Yoruba people.
“It is important to get rid of the presumption that the Sultan is the leader of Yoruba Muslims,” the group added. It pointed out that during the past decade, the Sultan’s Fulani people have inflicted violence upon Yoruba Muslims, killing many, destroying farms and villages, and committing numerous other atrocities without the Sultan condemning these crimes. The Sultan’s failure to speak out against the suffering of Yoruba Muslims further demonstrates that they do not consider him their leader.
“Therefore, the Sultan should not find it difficult to understand that Yoruba Muslims cannot see him as their leader. These facts are very important. The Sultan and Imam Haroun Eze must have noticed that in the enormous mass of hostile responses among Yoruba people against the Sultan’s message, there are as many Muslim as non-Muslim voices – in fact, probably more Muslim than non-Muslim voices.”
The statement also expressed shock at what it described as the Fulani’s inability to respect other ethnic groups. The Sultan’s message, as relayed through Imam Haroun Eze, was seen as highly disrespectful to the Yoruba people.
“It shows that you think you are the dominant people in every aspect of life in Nigeria. Yes, our Yoruba political leaders and the other political leaders of the rest of Nigeria have made the mistake of giving reality to the British attempts to impose the Fulani on Nigeria.”
