Respect yourself to avoid embarrassment — MURIC tells Governor Makinde
An Islamic human rights organisation, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has criticised Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State for failing to receive proper briefing before opposing Shari’ah.
According to a statement issued by the Executive Director of MURIC, Professor Ishaq Akintola, the group said “Makinde spoke in ignorance of the true situation on the ground.”
The group advised government officials to get adequate briefing before commenting on issues, particularly sensitive matters like religion.
“Governor Makinde spoke from a position of ignorance about the subject matter, particularly about the true situation on ground. It is advisable for government officials to get adequate briefing before commenting on issues particularly sensitive matters like religion. This is so because neither Muslims nor Christians can allow anyone, not even a governor, to ridicule their religion. That is why any government that does not want to be embarrassed should not make frivolous statements that can be debunked even by children in kindergarten classes,” Professor Akintola said.
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MURIC’s statement came after some uninformed and misguided Yoruba youths publicly declared they did not want Shari’ah in Yorubaland. Following this, Governor Makinde appeared in a viral video announcing that Shari’ah was not part of the constitution, which he swore to defend.
However, MURIC contends that Makinde’s statement was false, arguing that Shari’ah is indeed enshrined in the Nigerian constitution. The group noted that Section 275(1) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria allows states to establish Shari’ah Courts of Appeal. They further accused the governor of either feigning ignorance or failing to consult the legal arm of his government before making such a misleading statement.
In response to the controversy, MURIC pointed out that a typographical error in the invitation for a Shari’ah programme in Oyo town was wrongly exploited by the governor. The invitation mistakenly referred to a “Shari’ah Court” instead of a “Shari’ah Panel.” MURIC clarified that Shari’ah panels have been in existence in Yorubaland for years, including a well-established panel at the Central Mosque in Oja Oba, Oyo town, since May 2002. These panels serve as alternative dispute resolution platforms for Muslims to address civil matters like inheritance, marriage, and divorce, which are best understood and resolved by experts in Islamic law.
“Shari’ah panels are spread all over Yorubaland,” Professor Akintola emphasized. “Lagos has had one since 1993, Ogun established its panel in 2018, and Ekiti recently inaugurated its own Shari’ah Arbitration Panel in November 2024.”
MURIC also sought to dispel the fears of Yoruba people regarding Shari’ah panels, explaining that they are not conventional courts but rather spaces for resolving civil disputes within the Muslim community. The group urged Muslims, Christians, and traditionalists to peacefully coexist, emphasizing that Shari’ah panels are similar to Christian laws and courts, which have coexisted for decades without conflict.
“We must learn to tolerate Muslim civil Shari’ah just as the Muslims have been tolerating Christian laws and their courts for decades. There is nothing to fear in ordinary Shari’ah panels,” said Professor Akintola. He also warned that the Bible teaches the importance of knowledge, quoting Hosea 4:6: “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.”
In conclusion, MURIC called on Muslims in Oyo State and Yorubaland in general to remain patient and mature in the face of provocations. They urged all citizens to engage in peaceful dialogue, fostering a society that embraces diversity and respects the principles of different faiths.
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