The Digest:
Former Minister of Communications and Oyo State governorship aspirant, Adebayo Shittu, has declared his willingness to introduce Sharia law in the state if elected and if the populace demands it.Shittu defended the constitutional provision for Sharia, arguing that opposing voices were acting out of "intolerance." He stated that, as governor, he would implement it "if the people ask for it," citing constitutional allowance, and insisted no Christian would be forced under its jurisdiction. His comments come after controversial 2024 attempts to establish Sharia arbitration panels in the southwest faced significant public backlash.
Key Points:
- The statement directly engages with a highly sensitive and polarising issue of legal and religious identity in Nigeria's southwest.
- It frames the debate around Sharia as a test of religious tolerance, positioning supporters as constitutionalists and opponents as intolerant.
- The pledge is a strategic political calculation, potentially aimed at consolidating a specific religious voting bloc ahead of the 2027 elections.
- It reignites debates about the integration of religious legal systems within a secular constitutional framework at the state level.
- The declaration risks deepening existing social and religious tensions in the diverse state, recalling the fierce opposition to similar proposals in 2024.
Sources: The Cable, 'Naija Unfiltered' podcast
