Christian and Muslim leaders on Monday clashed over the planned inauguration of a shari’a arbitration panel across the South-Western states of Ogun, Osun, Ondo, Ekiti, Oyo and Lagos by the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs.
This is as the proponents of the Islamic code said there was no going back on their decision to set up the panel to adjudicate and resolve issues among the South-West Muslim Ummah.
The President, Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs in Ekiti State, Dr Hammed Bakare and the Chairman of the Shari’a Committee of Oyoland, Dr Rafiu Bello, spoke in separate interviews on Monday that the shari’a panel would be inaugurated despite the opposition to it.
The shari’a council had moved to establish an arbitration panel in Oyo town to adjudicate and sit on matters relating to Muslims.
However, the development was opposed by the government and other leaders.
Following this, the planned panel inauguration billed to hold at the Muslim Community Islamic Centre in Mobolaje Area, Oyo, on January 11 was suspended indefinitely.
Last week, the panel held its maiden sitting at the Ekiti Central Mosque, Ado Ekiti with three Khadis forming the panel.
Apparently uncomfortable with the idea, the state Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General, Dayo Apata, (SAN) said the existing legal structure in the state did not recognise the shari’a court or arbitration panel.
“There is an existing legal structure in Ekiti State (the Customary Court, Customary Court of Appeal and High Court) that has been handling issues relating to Islamic, Christian and traditional marriages and inheritance without any rancour or agitation,” he argued.
Aligning with the state government’s stance, the Ewi of Ado Ekiti, Oba Adeyemo Adejugbe, ordered the dissolution of the Sharia panel “in the interest of peaceful coexistence and law and order in the community.’’
The Organizing Secretary of the pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation Afenifere, Abagun Kole Omololu, said importing religious law into the Yoruba culture would not be tolerated, stating that the focus of the South-west region was development.
The Osun State Chairman, Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, Prof. Isaiah Adelowokan, said Christians in the South-West would oppose the establishment of a shari’a court in the region.
Adelowokan said, “I know no Christian who will ever say shari’a court should come to the South-West. We are not in support of it.”
