By Dayo Johnson, Akure

The Okun People in Kogi State have dissociated themselves from recent threats of Jihad in the South West, which were linked to the rejection of proposed Sharia Law in the region.

In a statement issued over the weekend, the President General of the Okun Development Association (ODA), Amb. Akenson Rotimi, made it clear that the Okun People, who are primarily Yoruba from Kogi State, are “totally Yoruba in history, culture, language, customs, practices, and other aspects of life.”

Rotimi’s statement came in response to a report circulating on social media, where a man named Abbey, claiming to be of Okun descent with a Fulani mother, allegedly threatened a Jihad against the Yoruba in the South West for rejecting Sharia. The Okun People were quick to distance themselves from this individual and his actions.

The ODA President stated, “Abbey may identify with the Fulani, but Okun People know who they are. His threats do not represent the views of Okun People.” He further emphasized that the Okun community does not support any form of violence or religious imposition and has always lived harmoniously with people of various faiths, including Christians, Muslims, and traditionalists.

Rotimi reaffirmed the Okun People’s commitment to the Nigerian Constitution, which guarantees religious freedom, and reiterated that the Okun homeland is part of historically Yoruba territory, never belonging to any other tribe or religion. He also criticized the forced integration of Okun into northern Nigeria during British colonial rule, advocating for a reversal of the historical injustices faced by the Okun people since 1903.

The statement concluded with a call for a referendum to allow the Okun People to chart their own course in alignment with their cultural, historical, and developmental values.