Barely 20 days after the judgment of an Osogbo High Court allowing Muslim female students in the state public schools to wear Hijab, the state chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN yesterday filed a stay of execution on the June 3 judgement.
This was disclosed in Osogbo by the state CAN Chairman, Rev. Elisha Ogundiya during a solidarity visit to the state CAN headquarters by South-West leaders of association.
CAN representatives from Ogun, Oyo, Ekiti and Ondo states stormed the state expressing their support for the state Christians on the issue of controversial Hijab judgment delivered by Justice Saka Oyejide Falola and their readiness to fight against any form of alleged Islamisation agenda by Governor Rauf Aregbesola.
In his address, the Secretary of South-West CAN, Rev. Alfred Aro, who spoke on behalf of the association’s Zonal Chairman, Archbishop Magnus Atilade, warned that any attempt by Muslim students to wear Hijab to schools after the appeal has been filed would make CAN to okay all forms of garments to be worn to schools in the state. He noted that Falola’s judgment negated the spirit of secularism of the nation “and it violates the religious rights of the original owner of the missionary schools as agreed upon when the schools were taken over by the then government of Oyo State in 1975”.
The Zonal CAN also expressed their concern on ban of morning devotion and assemblies in schools in some states in the country, saying the action must be rescinded.
“We note with dismay despite several appeals as a law abiding association, the ban on morning devotions and assemblies in some schools in Nigeria especially South-West Nigeria based on flimsy reason on insecurity.
“Now that President Muhammadu Buhari had confirmed the end to insurgency, we urge all states to unban the unfair decision within the next one month.”
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