The Christian Association of Nigeria
has threatened to direct Christian pupils to wear choir robes and
other church garments to public schools in Osun State should the state
government implements the court judgment on hijab.
has threatened to direct Christian pupils to wear choir robes and
other church garments to public schools in Osun State should the state
government implements the court judgment on hijab.
Justice Jide Oyelola had last Friday
ruled that Muslim female pupils in all public schools should be allowed
to wear hijab to schools without any harassment or molestation.
ruled that Muslim female pupils in all public schools should be allowed
to wear hijab to schools without any harassment or molestation.
But CAN, in a communique issued at the
end of its meeting and signed by its Osun State Chairman, Revd. Elisha
Ogundiya, said the association would ask Christian pupils to wear
garments associated with church activities to schools if Governor Rauf
Aregbesola decided to implement the court verdict.
end of its meeting and signed by its Osun State Chairman, Revd. Elisha
Ogundiya, said the association would ask Christian pupils to wear
garments associated with church activities to schools if Governor Rauf
Aregbesola decided to implement the court verdict.
The CAN also said it suspected that
Aregbesola ‘masterminded’ the judgement as part of his efforts to
Islamise the state but the Christian body vowed not to allow this to
happen.
Aregbesola ‘masterminded’ the judgement as part of his efforts to
Islamise the state but the Christian body vowed not to allow this to
happen.
The CAN, which rejected the judgment,
stated that the judge made an ancillary order which was not based on
any submission or prayer canvassed before the court when he ruled that
hijab the pupils should be using must be the colour and design already
approved by the state government.
stated that the judge made an ancillary order which was not based on
any submission or prayer canvassed before the court when he ruled that
hijab the pupils should be using must be the colour and design already
approved by the state government.
The communique read, “Where the Osun
State Government is inclined to implementing the judgment, Christian
students in all public schools founded by Christians with the toil and
sweat of our forefathers in the faith will have no choice but to start
wearing Christian garments and vestments as part of their school uniform
for the propagation of our own faith given the Justice Saka Oyejide
Falola declared right of Muslim female students to do same as what is
sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander as well. Adherents of other
faith who have their choice to make in this matter can wear theirs as
well.”
State Government is inclined to implementing the judgment, Christian
students in all public schools founded by Christians with the toil and
sweat of our forefathers in the faith will have no choice but to start
wearing Christian garments and vestments as part of their school uniform
for the propagation of our own faith given the Justice Saka Oyejide
Falola declared right of Muslim female students to do same as what is
sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander as well. Adherents of other
faith who have their choice to make in this matter can wear theirs as
well.”
However, one of the Muslim leaders in
the state, who is also the lead counsel for the Muslim Community in Osun
State, Mr. Kazeem Odedeji, when contacted asked Christians not to bring
emotion to the issue.
the state, who is also the lead counsel for the Muslim Community in Osun
State, Mr. Kazeem Odedeji, when contacted asked Christians not to bring
emotion to the issue.
Odedeji said the Muslims did not take
the laws to their own hands when their children were denied the rights
to wear hijab. He said they approached the court and waited for three
and a half years before the court ruled in their favour.
the laws to their own hands when their children were denied the rights
to wear hijab. He said they approached the court and waited for three
and a half years before the court ruled in their favour.
Calls placed across to the telephone
line of the media aide to the governor, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, were not
answered and the response to the text sent to his telephone and email
inquiry was still being awaited as of the time of filing this report.
line of the media aide to the governor, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, were not
answered and the response to the text sent to his telephone and email
inquiry was still being awaited as of the time of filing this report.