Bible-carrying Christians, including members
of Osun Baptists Conference in Osun State, have protested the attempt by the
state government to merge Muslim students wearing hijab with the Baptists High
School, Iwo in the new education policy introduced by Governor Rauf
Aregbesola's administration.
Aggrieved Christians armed with Holy Bibles
and hymn books trooped to the school as early as 7:30am and dislodged all
students from the school. They also prevented teachers from entering the school
premises.
They argued that the schools merger, if
allowed to succeed, would obliterate the Baptist heritage, saying hijab wearing
would never be allowed in school founded by Christian missionaries.
The Christian protesters defied the presence
of heavily armed security operatives and insisted that they would not allow the
merger to work. The security agents were civil in handling the situation and
this prevented the protest from becoming violent.
The Presiding Minister for the 35 Baptist
churches in Iwo land, Rev. Bayo Ademuyiwa, said: “Our forefathers and
missionaries sacrificed their lives, resources and everything to establish
schools, reputable schools with morals and values and that is why the Baptists
in Iwo land are here to protect our schools.
“Without any doubt, the Baptists in the state
are known for excellence, decorum and dignity. These virtues are highly
cherished by the Nigerian Baptist Convention and this is the reason why the
Baptists are making these two submissions which are: “Baptists in Iwo Land say
no to merger of schools and Baptists in Iwo Land say no to the use of hijab in
Baptists schools.
“While we welcome genuine efforts to provide
modern infrastructures and equipments in schools in Osun State, the Baptists see merger of schools as a step
in the wrong direction as it will rob us of our identity and bring more pains
to parents and students."
The Chairman, Osun State Christian
Association of Nigeria, Rev. Elisha Ogundiya, added: "We have maintained
this stand from inception and we will continue to defend lawfully what belong
to us as Christians in the state.”
“As a major stakeholder in the state, the
leadership of CAN expects the state government to invite us to discuss this
issue and other related one without delay. We wish to explain it clearly that
at no time has the new leadership of CAN in Osun held any meeting with the
state government on the issue of merger of schools."
But the governor in a statement issued by the
by the Director of Bureau of Communications and Strategy in the Office of the
Governor, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, assured all quarters of benefiting from the
ongoing re-classification and reform exercise.Source: Dailytimes
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