Laide Raheem, Abeokuta
The Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Muslim Affairs and Registrar, the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, has called for the establishment of a Sharia Court of Appeal in the western part of the country to cater for the judicial needs of Muslims in the southwest.
Oloyede who made this call while fielding questions from newsmen at the sidelines of the Conference of the League of Imam and Alfas in Yorubaland, Edo, and Delta, held in Ijebu Ode, Ogun State, argued that since there there are sizeable number of Muslims in the western part of the country, it is fair to have a Sharia Court of Appeal to further adjudicate on Islamic laws.
“It is also important for us that it is a right that has been given to us in Nigeria’s constitution that we should have a Sharia Court of Appeal, there is a sizeable number of Muslims in southwestern Nigeria, so in the interest of fairness, I do not see the reason why State Assemblies in Western Nigeria cannot propose for a Sharia Court of Appeal.
“We conduct our marriages, we conduct our inheritance, and we conduct personal things, we are talking about Islamic law, we are not talking about criminal law. Since the constitution of Nigeria allows it; many states of nations have it why shouldn’t we have our own? Another thing is that our voice must be heard, there should be clear evidence that the voice of Islam isn’t down unnecessarily, we want to make sure that we contribute to the development of Islam”, Oloyede stated.
On the issue of the wearing of Hijab by students, the former Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin argued that “nothing should stop Muslim ladies from appearing as Muslims even though they are pursuing Western education”.
He argued that there are cultures and certain features of Islam, so because of Western education Muslims should not be de-Islamized.
According to him, “Muslims should be united, and there are certain things that have been critical to our existence – the cultures of Islam. We cannot be de-Islamized because we are in a country where we have certain features of Islam, for instance, our ladies as students in school, nothing should stop them from appearing as Muslim, because going for Western education shouldn’t d-Islamize them”.
Earlier in his welcome address, the President-General of the League of Imam and Alfas, Sheik Jamiu Kewulere, called for unity, cooperation, and mutual understanding among all the Muslim groups.
He stressed that only unity among the Muslims would foster development which is a reflection of the past Muslims.
The immediate past High Commissioner of Nigeria to the United Kingdom, Sarafa Tunji Isola who is also the Baba Adini of Muslims of Yorubaland, Edo and Delta, emphasized that unity amongst the Muslims is pertinent, noting that when Muslims are united it will also help the society to reduce whatever conflict that may arise out of division.
Isola expressed optimism that the conference would provide a reason to build and strengthen bonds and unity among the Muslims across the country.