Withdraw your approval of Hijab for Christian schools, CAN tells Kwara gov

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has asked the Governor of Kwara State, Mallam Abdulrahman AbdulRazaq to immediately withdraw the approval that schools in Kwara including Christian schools could wear hijab

In a statement signed by CAN’s General Secretary, Barrister Joseph Bade Daramola, the body said it had become necessary for the governor to rescind the decision because it was taken prematurely.

“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.

“Is the government now saying that he is above the law? What is going to spoil if we all wait for the court to pronounce judgement on the matter? Why this hasty action?” the statement read in part.

CAN recalled that some people in the state took laws into their hands trying to enforce the use of hijab in schools including schools owned by mission agents but are only grant-aided by the government.

It then said rather than 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 use of hijab, even in Christian Mission Schools.

“This action of the government of Kwara State is not only discriminatory and divisive, but it equally suggests that the government was the one behind the earlier illegal enforcement of the wearing of hijab in Christian schools. While the government may give directives 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.”

CAN further called on political elites to stop using their religious zeal 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. No political leader should use his or her position to further the cause of any particular religion or ethnic group in order for peace to prevail.”

The body stated that it had resolved “to use all lawful means to reverse the order if the government refused to withdraw the directive.”