The Osun State chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria has said that the reclassification of public schools embarked upon by Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola is capable of triggering terrorism in the state.
The Osun CAN said this in a communiqué signed by its Chairman, Rev. Elisha Ogundiya, a copy of which was made available to our correspondent in Osogbo, the state capital, on Tuesday.
The communiqué read in part, “ We wish at this juncture to state categorically that the Osun State Christian Association of Nigeria is not fighting the Government of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, neither has the association pitched tent with any political party, especially since Christians in the state formed a very large part of the electorate that voted the present governor into office. We will however not shy away from our responsibility to defend the Christian faith.
“The continued silence of the Osun State Government on the problem caused by this new policy on education is like sitting on a keg of gun powder. For instance there have been lot of disturbances in public missionaries’ schools in the state, particularly on the use of hijab.
“The climax of this was the attack on some innocent teachers and pupils of Baptist High School, Ejigbo, by some Muslim youths on Monday 25th November, 2013. The Ejigbo incident is an infraction of the rule of law, especially given the fact that the hijab issue is presently before an Osogbo High Court.
“The Ejigbo debacle has shown that the mode of d’emploi adopted in the execution of the reclassification of schools is capable of breeding and unleash pure terrorism and insurgency in the mould of Boko Haram on the otherwise peace-loving Osun State for which posterity will hold Aregbesola administration liable.”
The association condemned the attack on the Principal of Baptist High School, Ejigbo, Mr. Layi Oguntola, by some Muslim youths.
The principal was attacked in his office by the Muslim youths last week for allegedly sending a hijab-wearing pupil, one Romoke, away from the school.
Oguntola has since denied the charge, saying that he merely caned the pupil for being unruly.
The Osun CAN called on the security agencies in the state to ensure that those arrested in connection with the principal’s attack as well as their sponsors were prosecuted.
It asked the governor to stop either the reclassification of schools in the state or be ready to return schools to their owners in order to avoid recurrent crisis.
The association also asked the state government to stop the use of hijab in Christian’s mission public schools and use beret as part of new uniform for female students.
Ogundiya said that the seven day ultimatum earlier given the governor was suspended due to the intervention of prominent citizens and security agencies in the state.
The CAN also demanded an apology from the spokesperson of the All Progressives Congress in Osun State, Mr. Kunle Oyatomi, for calling the association a surrogate of the opposition party.
Source: Punch
