Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has cleared the air on the plan to apply Sharia law in some states of the South-West region, including Oyo, noting that his administration will not oppose anything that is in line with the constitution.

The clarification came against the backdrop of a media report that the Oyo State government would go to court to challenge the plan. Makinde said that members of the public could approach the Sharia panel if they felt like doing so.

The governor, who stated that the panel could be an alternative dispute resolution mechanism, noted that the court of law is still empowered by the constitution to settle all disputes and that his administration will always follow the dictates of the constitution.

Makinde spoke during the 2025 Iftar programme organised by the Oyo State government, the sixth since he became governor of the state in 2019, held at the Presidential Lodge, Government House, Agodi, Ibadan.

He emphasised that his administration would ensure religious harmony and total unity in the state and not allow anyone to cause disaffection in the state. He added that while some people would want to use any means to win elections, including causing religious disharmony, the government has remained focused on developing the state sustainably for the good of its residents and future generations.

The governor, therefore, charged everyone not to encourage disunity that could truncate the peaceful atmosphere in the state. In his Iftar lecture, the Chief Imam of the Oyo State Government House Mosque, Sheik Adebayo Bello Rufai, noted that Allah loves Makinde for his dedication, steadfastness and good deeds to the people of the state.

Earlier, Chairman on the occasion, Bayo Oyero, thanked the governor for organising the sixth edition of Iftar since the inception of his administration and for his continuous support to the Muslim Ummah in the state.

Also, the Secretary of the Oyo State Muslim Community, Abidemi Siyanbade, and Prof. Rasheed Aderinoye, lauded the governor for allocating a new land for the reconstruction of the late Rashidi Adesokan Mosque.

In his vote of thanks, the Deputy Governor, Bayo Lawal, lauded Makinde’s uncommon leadership virtues and also appreciated the other arms of government for their support and cooperation with the current administration.

IN another development, some bishops and a coalition of religious organisations, yesterday, called for a legal framework to regulate the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Nigeria.

The coalition and the clerics, under the aegis of the Nigeria Religious Coalition on Artificial Intelligence, comprising Christian Council of Nigeria, Institute of Church and Society, Ibadan (CCS-ICN) and Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) with support of Future of Life Institute (FLI), gave the charge during a media briefing held at the Conference Hall of the Institute of Church and Society, Samonda, Ibadan.

In an address delivered by the Bishop, Diocese of Agodi Methodist Church, Nigeria, Rt. Rev. Oluwole Onaleke, said there was an urgent need for the National Assembly to enact a bill to regulate AI, warning of the disastrous consequences it might have on the human race.

The group, while emphasising the need for religious wisdom, alleged the AI companies aim “to change what it means to be human and create their own small world.”

It, therefore, vowed to stand against what will take away the place of God in the life of men. Director of the Institute of Church, Very Rev Kolade Fadahunsi, said: ”We can’t submit our intellect to machines. As a religious body, we want to be involved in policies on the consumption of AI.”

Others, who spoke at the event said religious organisations should devise ways of engaging with the government in evolving policies that would address the challenges posed by the use of AI on religious bodies and the youth.