ABUJA — Aloy Ejimakor, the lead lawyer for IPOB leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, has sparked a major row by claiming that Nigeria’s status as a secular state is a “lie.”
He pointed to the 1999 Constitution to back his claims, noting that the document is heavily skewed toward one religion while completely ignoring another.
The “Religious Count”
Ejimakor released a breakdown of the Constitution’s text to show what he describes as a clear religious bias:
- Sharia: Mentioned 73 times.
- Islam: Mentioned 28 times.
- Muslim: Mentioned 10 times.
- Christian: Mentioned 0 times.
“Is this not enough to want a separate State?” Ejimakor asked, arguing that the lopsided mentions prove that the document does not treat all citizens equally.
The Secular Debate
While many Nigerians believe Section 10 of the Constitution makes the country secular by banning a “State Religion,” Ejimakor’s analysis suggests the reality on paper is different.
His comments have divided Nigerians online. Supporters of self-determination say this “religious arithmetic” justifies their push for a separate country, while critics argue that Sharia is mentioned only to manage courts for those who want them, not to impose religion on others.
As the 2027 elections draw closer, this constitutional debate is expected to put more pressure on the government to consider a total review of the nation’s laws.
