Drama as Christian Association of Nigeria, Ifa worshippers join forcess against ‘anti-religious discrimination bill’

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN)’s war against Islam and Muslim fundamental rights in Nigeria got to a dramatic stage Wednesday when it got the collaboration of pagans, as precisely represented by the global head of Ifa priests, otherwise called the Araba Agbaye, Chief Owolabi Aworeni, who called on the House of Representatives to halt a bill that sought to institutionalise the use of hijab in the country.

The call against the Hijab bill which already passed second reading came barely 47 hours after the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) issued a similar statement, urging the leadership of the National Assembly to suspend the bill before the lower chamber.

According to a media report, the bill, titled “Religious Discrimination (Prohibition, Prevention) Bill, 2021” is seeking to provide a mechanism for enforcing certain provisions of the constitution and other international laws that recognize the right of a female to adorn the hijab in both public and private establishments in Nigeria.

The assault and denial of female Muslim rights to use the hijab in public schools especially and establishments (owned by the government) have been on the rise in Nigeria, the Muslim News said.

The perpetrators of these religious persecutions of Muslims, most times, are never brought to book.

But the idol worshippers and CAN, an umbrella body of Christians in Nigeria called for the stoppage of the proposed anti-religious discrmination bill, citing different reasons.

The General Secretary of CAN, Joseph Daramola, in a statement, said, in part that the bill is ill-timed and uncalled for, adding, “We wonder what the sponsors of the Bill seek to gain from it other than to compound the security problem and the wearing of hijab in public and Christian schools.

“To what extent does this controversial bill seek to promote peace, order, and good governance? Has dress code become part of the Exclusive Legislative List?,” he asked.

Chief Aworeni, who represents the traditional worshippers, therefore, warned the National Assembly to drop the issue of the use of hijab.

“We are warning that religious intolerance should not be allowed to polarise us as a people. Nigeria as a secular nation should be receptive to all religions and people should be free to practice their faith without any interference,” he added.