The Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, has called for the establishment of Sharia panels in the Southwest to serve the interests of Muslims in the region.
Oloyede, who also serves as the Secretary-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), urged leaders in the six states of the geopolitical zone to support the initiative, emphasizing that it would help foster sustainable peace.
Speaking on the Sunday edition of Inside Sources with Laolu Akande, a socio-political programme aired on Channels Television, Oloyede said there was nothing wrong with Muslims having Sharia courts in the Southwest.
“Recently, people are talking about Sharia Panels in the Southwest, and I was just smiling. I had never seen such a level of ignorance being displayed,” he said.
He noted that Sharia panels, which primarily handle marriage and inheritance disputes, have existed in the region for years. Citing Oyo State as an example, he referenced a PhD thesis on the subject written in 2007 by Prof. Makinde, now a professor at the University of Ibadan.
Oloyede dismissed concerns that the proposal could cause religious tension, stressing that Muslims, Christians, and traditional institutions in the Southwest have co-existed peacefully for generations.
“The matter is trivial, and unnecessary tension should not be built around it. However, Southwest Muslims bear a psychological burden for the peace and harmony in the region,” he added.
The former Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin emphasized the need for continuous monitoring of religious coexistence to sustain peace, warning that failing to do so would mean living in the past.
