Due to their opposition to the intended implementation of Sharia law in the area, the Okun people of Yoruba heritage in Kogi state have distanced themselves from the threat of jihad (war) against the Yoruba in South-West Nigeria.

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News reporters were given access to a statement signed by Amb. Akenson Rotimi, the president general of the Okun Development Association (ODA), on Sunday.

The organization was responding to a statement purportedly attributed to a man from Okun, Kogi State, whose mother is Fulani, who threatened to impose jihad on the Yoruba in the South-West for opposing the implementation of Sharia law in the area.

In a social media message, the group distanced themselves from the report and claimed that the Okun People are of pure Yoruba heritage from Kogi State and that they are identical to the Yoruba in the South-West region of Nigeria.

“The Okun people, who are primarily Yorubas from Kogi State, are YORUBA PONMBELE, who are wholly Yoruba in history, culture-language, customs, practices, dresses, diet, perspectives, social and moral laws, games, music, etc.,” the declaration states in separate portions.

The Okun people, who are presently in Kogi State’s Western Senatorial District, have taken notice of a story from a Sahara Reporter on Facebook that claims an Okun guy with a Fulani mother has promised to carry out jihad against the Yoruba people of South West Nigeria for their rejection of Sharia law.

Prior making our reaction, we would want to highlight the following details from the report: the man claims to be an Okun man named Abbey who has a Fulani mother; he is not Yoruba. He asserts that he identifies more with his mother’s tribe, the Fulani, than the Okun, and he accurately said that the Okun are not Islamophobic.

“The Okun people are aware of their identity, while Mr. Abbey, the one who threatened jihad, may not be. As a result, Okun people distance themselves from his threats.

We want to make it very obvious that he is unknown to Okun people and that, according to his own admission, he identifies as Fulani. Thus, he is unable to speak for Okun.

Additionally, we declare that his stance on the topic does not reflect or represent the views of the Okun people, who completely reject the threat he made.

“All right,” People declare that they do not harbor anti-Islamic sentiments. In most families, Christians, Muslims, and practitioners of traditional religions have coexisted together and have never experienced a relationship crisis.

Regarding religion, the Okun people firmly uphold the 1999 Constitution’s (as amended) unambiguous stance that Nigeria is a secure state with the freedom to practice any religion. According to this clause in the Constitution, any region of Nigeria that declares a certain faith to be its official religion declares its separation from the Federation of Nigeria.

Additionally, we declare that the Okun people’s ancestral home is Yorubaland. It was never a part of any other religion or tribe.

“Isale Oya is Okun.” Instead of Oke Oya (North), KUN IS ISALE OYA (South). Because of British colonialism, Okun had been in the North against the wishes of our people.

“Okun was separated from its historical and cultural ties and amalgamated with other Northern tribes with whom they had no economic, cultural, historical, or geographic connections.”

Because the Okun people want to form new relationships and alliances with people who share their culture, history, and development, the group’s president called for a referendum to express their new course in history and for the injustice that has been done to them since 1903.