Sharia, Silence, and Oyo State: Why Adebayo Shittu’s Governorship Ambition Raises Red Flags Nigerians Cannot Ignore
I watched that interview carefully, from start to finish, and what I saw was not the measured reasoning of a statesman or the inclusive language of a leader who understands Nigeria’s delicate diversity. What I saw was a man whose worldview appears deeply shaped by religious absolutism, a man seemingly blinded by the rigid interpretations of radical Islam, and disturbingly disconnected from Nigeria’s lived realities. The most shocking moment of the interview was not merely ideological—it was factual. Adebayo Shittu claimed there is no evidence that Sharia law affects non-Muslims in Northern Nigeria. That statement alone reveals either a dangerous level of denial or a deliberate attempt to rewrite reality.
Anyone who has paid even minimal attention to events in Northern Nigeria over the last two decades knows this claim does not stand up to scrutiny. This is the same North where Hisbah groups routinely confiscate and burn alcoholic beverages meant for lawful consumers—Christians, Muslims, and adherents of other beliefs alike. This is the same North where Christians have repeatedly raised alarms over systemic persecution, restricted freedoms, and targeted violence. To insist that Sharia has no impact on non-Muslims is not just inaccurate; it is an insult to the lived experiences of millions of Nigerians.
And this is the same man who now wants to become Governor of Oyo State.
Adebayo Shittu is not a fringe voice shouting from the sidelines. He is a former Minister of Communications and a known political figure. More importantly, he is a declared governorship aspirant who has openly stated his intention to introduce Sharia law in Oyo State if elected governor. This is not speculation. It is not propaganda. It is his own public position, stated repeatedly and defended aggressively.
To understand why this declaration is alarming, one must first understand Oyo State itself. Oyo is not a theocratic enclave. It is one of the most religiously integrated states in Nigeria. Christians and Muslims live, work, marry, and worship side by side with remarkable harmony. In Ibadan, Ogbomosho, Oyo, Iseyin, and across the state, religious coexistence is not an abstract ideal—it is daily life.
On radio stations across Oyo State, you hear morning Christian prayers followed seamlessly by Islamic programmes. On Fridays, the same people who listened to church devotion on Monday respectfully tune in for Jumu’ah prayers. In many families, religious lines are blurred by love and kinship: an Alhaji is married to a Deaconess; a Pastor’s son bears a Muslim name; siblings attend church and mosque without suspicion or hostility. There are no religious riots. No forced conversions. No ideological battles for dominance.
This is the Oyo State Adebayo Shittu wants to transform with Sharia law.
The irony becomes even more glaring when viewed against global and regional realities. Turkey, for instance, is a country where approximately 85–90% of the population identifies as Muslim. Yet Turkey does not operate under Sharia law. It is a secular republic with civil laws, functioning institutions, and a governance model that separates religion from state power. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is currently in Turkey, engaging with its leadership and benefiting from the stability and structure that secular governance provides.
So the question must be asked: if a predominantly Muslim country like Turkey thrives without Sharia law, why does Adebayo Shittu believe Oyo State—a religiously mixed Yoruba state—must be subjected to it?
This question becomes even more troubling when one examines Shittu’s public record. During his tenure as Minister of Communications, there are no landmark achievements that fundamentally transformed the sector or left a lasting legacy Nigerians can point to with pride. No revolutionary reforms. No defining policies that changed lives on a mass scale. Yet, rather than presenting a robust development agenda focused on education, healthcare, infrastructure, security, and economic growth, Shittu’s most memorable political promise today is the introduction of Sharia law.
Leadership is about solving problems, not importing ideologies.
Supporters of Sharia often argue that it promotes justice and moral discipline. But Nigeria already provides a real-world case study of Sharia governance in practice. Sharia law is currently operational in at least 12 Northern Nigerian states. After more than two decades, what has been the outcome?
Has Sharia eradicated corruption? No.
Has it reduced poverty? No.
Has it improved security? No.
Instead, what Nigerians have witnessed is a disturbing duality of justice. Wealthy individuals who embezzle billions are quietly handed over to federal agencies like the EFCC, often negotiating plea deals or walking free. Meanwhile, poor petty thieves—those who steal out of desperation—are subjected to harsh punishments, including amputations, under Sharia rulings. Justice, under this system, appears selective and class-based.
This is not justice. This is inequality sanctified by religion.
Is this the model Adebayo Shittu intends to replicate in Oyo State?
If history is any guide, the answer is unsettling. It is also not surprising that Shittu previously hosted Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, a cleric whose public statements on insecurity and banditry have sparked national outrage and deep division. Political associations matter. They reveal ideological leanings and future intentions. When a governorship aspirant surrounds himself with figures known for extreme positions, the public has every right to be concerned.
Nigeria’s Constitution is clear. The country is a secular state. No government, federal or state, is permitted to adopt a religion as state policy. Attempts to impose Sharia beyond personal law challenge not just constitutional order but national unity itself. In a country already battling ethnic tension, religious extremism, and insecurity, introducing another divisive fault line is reckless.
Oyo State does not need religious experiments. It needs competent governance.
It needs leaders focused on improving public schools, fixing roads, empowering youth, supporting farmers, attracting investors, strengthening healthcare, and ensuring security. It needs unity, not ideological crusades. It needs progress, not regression masked as piety.
As 2027 approaches, the people of Oyo State may not yet have decided who they will vote for. Political alliances will shift. New aspirants will emerge. Campaigns will rise and fall. But one thing should already be clear: they must know who they will never vote for.
Democracy is not just about choosing leaders; it is about rejecting those whose visions threaten social harmony, constitutional order, and peaceful coexistence. Oyo State has enjoyed decades of religious tolerance and cultural balance. It must not gamble that legacy on the ambitions of one man driven by ideological obsession rather than inclusive leadership.
History will judge the choices made today. The people of Oyo State must choose wisely—or refuse decisively.
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