Group tasks CAN, school on peace, religious tolerance in Osun
THE Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has urged the Christian Association
of Nigeria (CAN) and authorities of the Baptist High School, Iwo in
Osun State, where religious dress mode such as hijab and right to
individual faith, has incited protests, to allow peace and religious
tolerance reign.
This appeal came on the heels of the drama witnessed at the school last week where masquerades found their way into the school premises while lessons were ongoing and some students reportedly replaced their school uniforms with different uniforms of their faiths, groups and cultural dresses such as Celestial Church gowns, church choir and Boys’ Brigade uniforms, Tajia cap, Ifa beaded clothes, among others.
The Director, MURIC, Prof. Ishiaq Akintola, stated that for the past three years, Osun State has witnessed unprecedented economic growth and moral rejuvenation, including youth empowerment, which has been building hope for the younger indigenes, including the human policy of care for the older citizens which also injected a large dose of hope and great expectation among a people long oppressed and, in such progressive state, religious opposition shouldn’t be allowed to find a way in there and stay.
Speaking at a press conference organised by the group to find the way forward on the emerging religious issues in schools, particularly in Osun State, Akintola emphasized religious tolerance as means to peaceful co-existence and as building block of a better political and economical society, which the state needs the most.
He said: “The issue of female Muslim students covering their heads with hijab while in school should not be a bone of contention that has allowed masked individuals who have been instigating children of other faiths.”
“MURIC believes that Nigeria could be truly great if both Christians and Muslims sink their differences and embrace peace as we have been living, co-existing together in the South-west for a long time and which should continue.”
“It may be difficult to achieve if one group attempts to change the identity of another and to ask a Christian to abandon his faith is same as stopping our female Muslims who use veils (hijab) from using them which is also close to asking a Muslim drop Islam,” he said.
In a resolution for peace, Akintola, therefore, called on CAN and the authorities of Baptist High School to acclimatize and push aside insignificant things for the wind of change that is blowing worldwide and in the Osun State.
This appeal came on the heels of the drama witnessed at the school last week where masquerades found their way into the school premises while lessons were ongoing and some students reportedly replaced their school uniforms with different uniforms of their faiths, groups and cultural dresses such as Celestial Church gowns, church choir and Boys’ Brigade uniforms, Tajia cap, Ifa beaded clothes, among others.
The Director, MURIC, Prof. Ishiaq Akintola, stated that for the past three years, Osun State has witnessed unprecedented economic growth and moral rejuvenation, including youth empowerment, which has been building hope for the younger indigenes, including the human policy of care for the older citizens which also injected a large dose of hope and great expectation among a people long oppressed and, in such progressive state, religious opposition shouldn’t be allowed to find a way in there and stay.
Speaking at a press conference organised by the group to find the way forward on the emerging religious issues in schools, particularly in Osun State, Akintola emphasized religious tolerance as means to peaceful co-existence and as building block of a better political and economical society, which the state needs the most.
He said: “The issue of female Muslim students covering their heads with hijab while in school should not be a bone of contention that has allowed masked individuals who have been instigating children of other faiths.”
“MURIC believes that Nigeria could be truly great if both Christians and Muslims sink their differences and embrace peace as we have been living, co-existing together in the South-west for a long time and which should continue.”
“It may be difficult to achieve if one group attempts to change the identity of another and to ask a Christian to abandon his faith is same as stopping our female Muslims who use veils (hijab) from using them which is also close to asking a Muslim drop Islam,” he said.
In a resolution for peace, Akintola, therefore, called on CAN and the authorities of Baptist High School to acclimatize and push aside insignificant things for the wind of change that is blowing worldwide and in the Osun State.
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