The Christian Association of Nigeria has reacted to the ongoing hijab controversy in Kwara state
Hijab
Kwara Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has been attacked by the Christian Association of Nigeria.
CAN accused the governor of religious bias over approval of wearing of hijabs in schools across the states, including Christian mission institutions.
It said: “The Governor of Kwara State has shown open bias for one religion with his inability to wait for court process to be concluded over this matter.
“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.”
It advised him to immediately reverse the approval, describing the Governor’s action as hasty, biased, premature and equally prejudicial.
The religious body expressed sadness over the development, stating “CAN has resolved to use all lawful means to reverse the order if the government refused to withdraw the directive”.
A statement by its General Secretary, Joseph Daramola, said: “It appears to be 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 governor 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?
“We recalled that some people took laws into their hands in the state by going from schools to schools to be enforcing the wearing of hijab in secondary schools, including the schools owned by mission agents but are only grant-aided 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 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 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”.
CAN urged 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.