former president Olusegun Obasanjo has described the controversy surrounding the introduction of Sharia law in parts of Nigeria as largely driven by politics rather than religion.
Speaking during the interview, Obasanjo recalled the debates that took place during the Constituent Assembly when the question Sharia law became the main point of discussion.
Obasanjo recalls the Constituent Assembly debate
He said that during the time when he was the military head of state, the issue caused an intense debate in the assembly.
According to him, he had to engage one of the northern elites in order to better understand the position that was being pushed at the time.
“I was a military head of state and Sharia became a topic in the Constituent Assembly. And I called someone, one of the northern elites, I said look, you people, the Sharia Court of Appeal – you will not go there. You do not ask your questions there,” he said.
“It was politics” – Obasanjo
Obasanjo noted that the response he received showed that the debate was more influenced by politics.
“He said yes, but why are you doing it? He said politics… Politics, so what suits people politically?” he remembered.
“I watch what people do, not what they say”
The former president added that his approach to leadership has always been guided by actions, not words or political statements.
“So I don’t go by what people say or think. I go by what they do,” he stated.
Look below;
This is video proof for those of you who say I am lying about Sharia law being politicized in Nigeria. That’s what Baba Obasanjo himself said about it. Sharia law in Nigeria is crap and a big scam. https://t.co/qyFLntEeJD pic.twitter.com/CenAT0vsD9
— Aneex 🌍 (@pious_minister) June 7, 2026
