Yoruba group demands restructuring, rejects Sharia panels in South-west
A Yoruba self-determination group, Yoruba One Voice (YOV), has declared that for Nigeria to witness true development, its continued existence must be anchored on regional self-governance and regional autonomy.
The group also rejected the agitation for the establishment of Sharia law in the south-west zone of the country, describing it as an attempt to weaponise religion for political gains.
This position of the group was conveyed through a communique issued at its international conference, with the theme, “Sharia Law in Yorubaland: Setting Things Straight through Restructuring.”
The virtual conference, which had Prof. Oluwafemi Obayori as guest lecturer and presided over by YOV convener, Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Adams, brought together members of the YOV Global Coordinating Council; YOV General Assembly, other critical stakeholders, and prominent Yoruba sons and daughters across many countries to deliberate on the contentious and polarising move to introduce Sharia Law in Yorubaland.
YOV maintained that the continued absence of regional autonomy by the political class will ultimately leave the Yoruba with no other option than to pursue a realisation of total liberation and complete political independence for all her territories to form the Yoruba nation.
To address the highlighted concerns, participants at the conference stressed the urgent need for restructuring of the Nigerian state to reflect the autonomy and integrity of its constituent nationalities.
The conference advocated for a comprehensive constitutional amendment to return control over local governments and economic resources to the regions, reduction of the burdens on the federal government, and strengthening of grassroots governance.
