The Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, has called on South-West leaders to support the establishment of Sharia panels in the region to promote peace and foster religious harmony.
Oloyede, who also serves as the Secretary-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, made this appeal during an appearance on Inside Sources with Laolu Akande on Channels Television on Sunday.
He expressed concern over the widespread lack of understanding regarding the matter, highlighting that Sharia panels have been in existence in the region for years. Oloyede said, “I believe Nigeria is great and will continue to be, but it requires a lot of rethinking. Recently, there has been growing debate about Sharia panels in the South-West, and I couldn’t help but smile. I’ve never seen such a level of ignorance on this issue.”
He further explained, “In Oyo State, a PhD thesis on Sharia panels was written in 2007, which means they existed even before then. The author of the thesis, Professor Makinde, is now a professor in Ibadan. Coincidentally, the governor is also named Makinde, though I’m not sure if they are related.”
In addressing concerns about religious tolerance in the region, Oloyede, a former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, emphasized that Muslims in the South-West are burdened by the region’s peaceful coexistence. “When you have such a situation of religious tolerance, and you don’t continue to monitor it, you risk living in the past. As a Muslim from the South-West, I can tell you that Muslims in this region pay a psychological price for the peace and harmony we cherish.”
He further explained the challenges faced by Muslims in the region: “Churches are licensed by the government to conduct statutory marriages, and if there is a dispute, you go to a government-funded high court for resolution. But if I, as a Muslim, have a dispute in my marriage, where do I go? Because I married according to Islamic rites, my only option is to go to a customary court, where the judge may know little about Islamic law. Customary law would then be used to resolve an Islamic marriage dispute, even though the Nigerian Constitution permits Sharia Courts of Appeal where the state assembly allows it.”
Oloyede pointed out that Sharia Court of Appeal systems already exist in parts of northern Nigeria, and while there is a semblance of harmony in the South-West, this often comes at the cost of Muslims’ rights. “When we say there is harmony, it means someone is suffering in silence. But when they speak up, they’re told, ‘Why are you making noise?’”
This discussion follows a growing controversy in the South-West over the establishment of Sharia panels. While Muslim leaders emphasize their right to self-determination, non-Muslim groups have raised concerns about the potential implications of such panels.
