BY UMMU ABUBAKAR
THE Christian Association of Nigeria, on Tuesday, demanded the withdrawal of an approval by the Kwara State Government for willing students to wear hijab in secondary schools in the state.
The Association said Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq must immediately withdraw the approval of wearing hijab for students within the state, especially for students in Christian mission schools, or it would use all lawful means to reverse the order.
CAN made its position known in a statement by its General Secretary, Joseph Daramola, titled, “Caution on Kwara State Governor’s Approval of Wearing of Hijab in Christian School”.
It said the Governor should have waited for the court to pronounce its final judgement in a pending case relating to the matter.
The apex Christian body said instead of the government to caution trouble makers and admonish them to wait for the court process to be concluded and judgement delivered, it had shown its religious bias by the blanket approval of the wearing of the hijab, even in Christian Mission Schools.
Recall that the Kwara Governor had directed the closure of 10 Christian mission schools last month for allegedly refusing to allow female students wearing hijab enter their premises.
Daramola said, “We ask the Governor of Kwara State, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq to immediately withdraw his government’s approval of wearing of hijab in schools within the state, including Christian Mission schools.
“This advice is necessary because we see the action of the Governor of the state as premature and equally prejudicial. It appears to be a contempt of the court because the governor is aware that there is a pending court case on this matter over which the court had earlier ruled that the status quo should be maintained.”
He added, “We note how some people took the laws into their hands in the state by going from school to school to enforce the wearing of hijab in secondary schools, including the schools owned by mission agents but are only granted aid by the government.
“Instead of the government to caution such trouble makers and admonish them to wait for the court process to be concluded and judgement delivered, the government of Kwara State has shown its religious bias by the blanket approval of the wearing of the hijab, even in Christian Mission Schools.”
CAN therefore alleged that the action of the Government of Kwara State was not only discriminatory and divisive, but also suggested that the government was the one behind the earlier illegal enforcement of the wearing of hijab in Christian schools.
The Association said, “While the government may give directive on its own schools, it ought to respect the schools it does not directly own, nor started and respect the religious cultures of such schools as well.
“We urge the political elites to stop using their religious overzealousness in causing division in the society, but rather treat all equally irrespective of religious and ethnic affiliation. If we would all do pilgrimage together, there must be fairness to all, mutual respect and justice.”
It warned political leaders against using their positions to further the cause of any particular religion or ethnic group in the interest of peace.
“The Governor of Kwara State has shown an open bias for one religion with his inability to wait for the court processes to be concluded over this matter,” CAN claimed.
“CAN has resolved to use all lawful means to reverse the order if the government refused to withdraw the directive,” it added.
