By Oluseye Ojo
World Chairman of the Yoruba Regional Alliance Worldwide, Opeoluwa George Akinola, an architect, has announced that a coalition of Yoruba groups is prepared to take matters into their own hands by defending Yorubaland against the influx of bandits from military bombardments in the North West and other places to the South West.
The coalition of Yoruba groups comprises different organisations, including the Yoruba Regional Alliance (YRA), Yoruba Nation Religious Council (YONAREC), Agbekoya, Soludero Hunters, the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC), Muslim Association of Yoruba Nation (MAYON), Yoruba Nation Christian Association (YORNCA), and Imo Oodaiye (Isese Yorubaland).
Akinola, who spoke on behalf of the coalition at a press conference on Wednesday at the NUJ Press Centre, Iyaganku Quarters, Ibadan, the state capital, also expressed strong opposition to the coalition’s stance on the postponed inauguration of a Sharia Court in Oyo town.
According to him, the coalition had gone to court to challenge and counter the plan and had also written formally to Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State to reject the proposed Sharia court in Oyo town and anywhere in the state.
The coalition’s firm stance came in response to reports of bandits infiltrating the region, particularly in Oyo State, following the alarm raised by Governor Seyi Makinde, who reassured residents that measures were being taken to tackle the bandits, as well as the arrest of 100 suspected terrorists in Osun State a few days ago.
Akinola emphatically stated, “Gone are those days when bandits will come to towns and villages in the Southwest and be raping women, pursuing farmers out of their farms. We are ready to resolve into self-defence if bandits try such again.”
He noted that it is primarily the duty of state governors and security agencies, including the Nigeria Police Force and Department of State Services (DSS), to safeguard their constituents.
“When the governors fail to do that, we have no other option than to resolve into self-defence to protect lives and property,” he added.
The group argued that the Sharia court posed a significant threat to peace in the Yoruba region, which has long been celebrated for its cultural harmony and religious tolerance.
“The move is an attempt to cause chaos in Oyo town and its environs,” said Akinola, warning that it could lead to massive dislocation and disturbance in the community.
The group demanded that the Oyo State Government take immediate steps to halt any preparations for the Sharia Court’s inauguration, stating, “We totally reject and condemn it… to forestall impending catastrophe.”
Akinola stated: “The Yoruba people are historically peace-loving and accommodating. We have built our culture and traditions to the admiration of people all over the world. The Yoruba Nation has been the adjudged bastion of religious tolerance and harmonious living worldwide. Hardly is there any Yoruba family where you don’t find adherents of Christianity, Islam, and Isese (Yoruba Traditional religion). This harmony and balance have endured for centuries. We intend to keep it that way.”
“For decades, Muslims from the north of Nigeria have been attempting to export their brand of Islam which espouses violence, intolerance, Jihad, and the anachronistic Sharia Islamic code into Yorubaland. It has always been vehemently rejected by our people as this does not represent our values.
“Your Excellency, going back into history, it was the surreptitious importation of this religious code, which our people innocently accepted as a religion of peace, that was turned overnight into a jihad and a war of conquest against our people. This is the face of Fulani political Islam, which only seeks to foist the hegemony of the Fulani people over the rest of us. We vehemently and unequivocally reject this!”
“It is in the interest of Oyo town and environs, Oyo State, and the rest of Yorubaland that the inauguration of the Sharia court is not allowed to take place anywhere in Yorubaland as it will lead to unimaginable chaos and cause massive dislocations beyond the imaginations of everyone. This will seriously paint your government in a bad light.
“We totally reject and condemn the proposed inauguration, while calling on the Oyo State Government to forestall the impending catastrophe by immediately putting a stop to any further preparations by the Supreme Council for Shari’ah in Nigeria to inaugurate the Sharia court in Oyo town and environs, in Oyo State, and in any other part of Yorubaland.”