A coalition of Yoruba leaders under the Alliance for Yoruba Democratic Movement (AYDM) has strongly condemned the Sultan of Sokoto, calling him a terrorist and accused him of attempting to impose Sharia law in the Southwest.
In a statement, AYDM expressed alarm over what they described as the Sultan’s push for Sharia in the old Western Region, which includes Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ekiti, Ondo, Edo, Delta, Kogi, and Kwara States.
The group warned Nigerians to be aware of the deteriorating security situation in Sokoto State, where armed gangs have taken over communities, spreading violence, killings, and extremism.
“The Sultan presides over the poorest and most violence-ridden state in Nigeria. He cannot lecture the Yoruba people on marriage, community unity, or peacebuilding,” the statement read.
AYDM cited a 2023 Sokoto State government survey revealing that over 776,000 children were out of school, with extreme poverty affecting 80% of the population. The group argued that Sokoto has become a hub of crime, violent divorces, and terrorism, questioning why the Sultan has not resolved disputes in his own state using Sharia law.
The movement further alleged that the Sultan’s focus on the Southwest is politically motivated, aimed at destabilizing the region ahead of the 2027 elections. They argued that Islam had been in Yorubaland since the 1300s, centuries before the Fulani-led Sultanate was established, and rejected the notion of the Sultan as the leader of Nigerian Muslims.
“The leadership of Islam in Nigeria was imposed by the military, and it is time for Nigerians to challenge and change it,” AYDM asserted.
The group warned against any attempts to replicate Sokoto’s religious tensions in the Southwest, insisting that Yoruba people have lived peacefully under a traditional justice system for over 1,000 years without the need for Sharia.
“We will not allow enemies of Yorubaland to use religion as a tool for division and chaos. Yoruba Muslims, Christians, and traditional worshippers will resist any attempt to destabilize our region,” the statement concluded.
