Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has described the debate surrounding the implementation of Sharia law in areas of Nigeria as being primarily motivated by politics rather than religion.

During an interview, Obasanjo recalled conversations that took place during the Constituent Assembly, when Sharia law became a prominent topic of debate.

He claimed that during his tenure as military head of state, the issue prompted heated debate in the parliament.

According to him, he needed to speak with one of the northern elites to better comprehend the stance being pushed at the time.

“I was military head of state and Sharia became an issue in the Constituent Assembly. And I called somebody, one of the Northern elites, I said look, you people, Sharia Court of Appeal — you won’t go there. You don’t take any of your issues there,” he said.

Obasanjo stated that the responses he received indicated that the debate was affected more by politics.

“He said yes but why are you doing this? He said politics… Politics, so what suits people politically?” he recalled.

“I Watch What People Do, Not What They Say”

The former president added that his approach to leadership has always been guided by actions rather than words or political statements.

“So I don’t go by what people say or what they mean. I go by what they do,” he stated.