The Concerned Muslims of Yorubaland has described as both “divisive rhetoric and misinformation”, the letter by Professor Banji Akintoye and Mr. Gani Adams, to the Sultan of Sokoto, which implied that Yoruba Muslims do not recognize the Sultan as their leader.
The Convener and Secretary, Ustadh Musharafa Al-Khaqaq and Mr. Omololu Hakeem Adegesin, stated that “As Yoruba Muslims, we affirm our allegiance to the leadership of the Sultan of Sokoto, who is the spiritual leader of Muslims in Nigeria. His leadership transcends tribal lines, and his position as President-General of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) remains sacrosanct.”
Read their response below:
Our attention has been drawn to the recent wave of divisive rhetoric and misinformation being propagated by Professor Banji Akintoye and Mr. Gani Adams, who claim to speak for the Yoruba people. Their statements, laced with falsehood and misrepresentation, aim to sow discord within the Yoruba Muslim community and between us and the broader Muslim Ummah in Nigeria.
Setting the record straight
Professor Banji Akintoye, in what he called a Letter to the Sultan of Sokoto, falsely claimed that Yoruba Muslims do not recognize the Sultan as their leader. Similarly, Gani Adams was quoted in a news report warning against “religious fanatics masquerading as Muslims” and cautioning them to avoid actions that could “set Yorubaland on fire.”
We wish to unequivocally state that these assertions are baseless. As Yoruba Muslims, we affirm our allegiance to the leadership of the Sultan of Sokoto, who is the spiritual leader of Muslims in Nigeria. His leadership transcends tribal lines, and his position as President-General of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) remains sacrosanct.
The hypocrisy of the so-called Yoruba nationalists
Renowned Yoruba scholar Orimolagun Obego, writing from Russia, has already exposed the hypocrisy of Akintoye and Adams in an article titled “SHARIAH: We Are Not the Only Tribe Living with Muslims in Nigeria – Let Yoruba Take Caution.” Obego correctly pointed out that some elements within the Yoruba elite have historically fueled anti-Islam sentiments, often using the media to distort facts.
For instance, when Islamic banking was introduced in Nigeria, it was a Yoruba-led outcry—despite the fact that it was first proposed by a Christian, Prof. Charles Soludo, during his tenure as CBN Governor. Today, Islamic banks such as Jaiz Bank, TajBank, and Lotus Bank are thriving, serving Nigerians of all faiths. The manufactured opposition to Islamic financial institutions back then was not about religious fairness but ethnic prejudice disguised as national discourse.
Similarly, recent criticisms of the Sultan for advocating for Muslim rights reflect a long-standing pattern of intolerance from a section of the Yoruba elite. As Obego rightly noted, the NSCIA’s call for religious tolerance in the South West was a lawful and justified appeal, yet it was met with hostility from those who seek to impose a monolithic cultural and religious identity on the Yoruba people.
Our stand as concerned Muslims of Yorubaland
We, the Concerned Muslims of Yorubaland, make the following declarations:
- The Sultan of Sokoto is the Leader of Muslims in Nigeria, including Yoruba Muslims. The Sultanate has historically played a stabilizing role in national unity, and we reaffirm our loyalty to its leadership.
- Yoruba Muslims and Northern Muslims share a common Islamic bond. Any attempt to create a division between us based on ethnicity is against the teachings of Islam.
- Islamic governance structures in Nigeria are well-established. The NSCIA, with the Sultan as its President-General, and the Muslim Ummah of South West Nigeria (MUSWEN), led by Alhaji Rasaki Oladejo, represent our interests effectively. The idea that Yoruba Muslims must be isolated from the broader Islamic leadership is misguided and uninformed.
- We reject the divisive politics of Akintoye and Adams. Their agenda is not about Yoruba progress but about fueling unnecessary conflicts that threaten peace in our region.
- We call on Yoruba leaders to promote unity rather than discord. The false narratives about Islam being a threat to Yoruba culture must stop. Our faith coexists harmoniously with our identity, and no amount of propaganda can change that.
A final warning
Professor Banji Akintoye and Mr. Gani Adams must desist from making inflammatory statements that could destabilize Yorubaland. We have witnessed how reckless agitation led to instability in the South East. We refuse to allow similar misadventures in our region.
The claim that Hausa-Fulani Muslims seek to “capture” Yorubaland under the guise of Islam is baseless and lacks any factual foundation. Such rhetoric is not only divisive but also dangerous.
In conclusion, we stand firm in our faith, our unity, and our commitment to the peace and progress of Nigeria. No amount of propaganda will separate us from our Muslim brothers and sisters across the country.
Signed:
Ustadh Musharafa Al-Khaqaq
Convener, Concerned Muslims of Yorubaland
Mr. Omololu Hakeem Adegesin
Secretary/Public Relations Officer
