Hijab Crisis: Osun CAN Orders Christian Students To Attend Classes In Church Robes

Osun State Christian Association of Nigeria, OSCAN, has directed all female Christian students in both primary and secondary schools in the state to wear their church garments to their different schools, beginning from Monday.

There was however palpable tension in some schools in different parts of the State including Osogbo, the state capital yesterday over the controversy on the use of hijab by female Muslim students during school hours.

Christian leaders having realised that Muslim girls now wear hijab to public schools, agreed that by next Monday, Christian students will begin to wear their garments such as those for Boys Brigade, ushers, Girls Guide, choristers, band boys, white garments and others.

We authoritatively gathered that messages have been sent to churches to mobilise their members to ensure that their children comply with this directive. Already, Director of DSS in the state met Christian and Muslim leaders separately on Wednesday pleading for peace.

A judge of Osun State High Court, Justice Jide Falola had delivered a judgement last Friday in favour of a case instituted by Osun State Muslim Community against the State Government on the right of female Muslim students in public schools in the state to use hijab on their school uniforms.

Nigerians should hold Aregbesola responsible — PDP Meantime, Osun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, said Nigerians should hold Governor Rauf Aregbesola responsible, if more damage is done to the state’s education system through the brewing crises over wearing of hijab in public schools by female students.

The party in a statement issued in Osogbo by its spokesperson, Prince Diran Odeyemi, said Muslims and Christians in Osun state have coexisted long before now without crises and blamed the rising tension on Governor Aregbesola, whom it accused of planning to destabilise the state for some political reasons.

”Govt has no hand in the judgment” In a swift response, the state’s Solicitor General, Abiola Adewemimo, said; ‘’It has come to the notice of the State Government that the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN alleged that the judgment of the High Court of the State in favour of the right of female pupils to wear hijab in public schools was masterminded by the State Government.

‘’While we consider this to be unfortunate, we hasten to remind all religious groups, Christians, Muslim and traditional religious worshippers that the Judiciary is an independent arm of Government that is responsible and not under the control of the Executive in anyway.

(Vanguard)