Former Minister Adebayo Shittu Defends Sharia Panels in South-West, Dismisses Opposition as Ignorance
Former Minister of Communications, Adebayo Shittu, has weighed in on the ongoing debate over the establishment of Sharia panels in the South-West, describing the opposition as a result of ignorance,Daily Trust reports.
The controversy stems from plans to introduce Sharia panels in Oyo State and other parts of the region. In Ekiti, where such a panel was set up, the Ewi of Ado Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adeyemo Adejugbe, summoned the Chief Imam of Ado Ekiti, Shaykh Jamiu Kewulere, and ordered its disbandment.
Some Yoruba activists have also voiced strong opposition, arguing that the Yoruba people uphold a secular tradition. They claim that Sharia-compliant states in Nigeria are plagued by insecurity, including religious conflicts, killings, and kidnappings, making the introduction of such panels a potential source of instability.
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However, Muslim leaders have defended the initiative, clarifying that these panels serve only as arbitration bodies to handle civil matters such as marriage, divorce, and inheritance among Muslims.
Speaking on the issue during a television interview, Shittu criticized the opposition, attributing it to a lack of understanding of Nigeria’s constitution.
“In Yorubaland, whether it’s the governors or so-called Yoruba activists, their problem is ignorance of the Nigerian Constitution,” he said.
He emphasized that Sharia law falls under fundamental human rights as it pertains to religion, with the constitution guaranteeing freedom of thought, conscience, and religious practice.
“What sense does it make for two Muslims who marry under Sharia law in a mosque to be forced to resolve their divorce in a Customary Court, which may be presided over by Christians, animists, or people unfamiliar with Islamic law?” Shittu questioned.
He further pointed out that Sharia panels have been operational in Oyo and Lagos states for over a decade without any controversy or crisis, and no non-Muslim has ever been subjected to them.
“These religious rights are fundamental and constitutionally guaranteed, whether in Ekiti or elsewhere. People have the right to decide under which legal framework they govern their personal affairs,” he added.
Shittu urged the Muslim community in the affected states to challenge any attempts to interfere with their religious rights through legal action.
