Christians should show tolerance, not to close their schools to Muslim girls over hijab – Methodist Prelate

*As Professors ask Kwarans to beware of CAN

By KEMI KASUMU

The Prelate, Methodist Church of Nigeria, Dr Samuel Uche, early in the week precisely on Sunday 21 March, 2021 in Lagos, called for peace and tolerance among Christians and Muslims for a peaceful and prosperous Nigeria.

Uche made the appeal while speaking with journalists on the sideline of the induction of the Christian Council of Nigeria’s General-Secretary, Rev. Evans Onyemara at the Methodist Cathedral of Peace and Excellence, Lagos.

The prelate said that his appeal was premised on the crisis brewing over the wearing of hijab by willing Muslim female students in Kwara.

According to him, there should be tolerance among Christians and Muslims, saying that misunderstanding over the hijab issue leading to skirmishes in Kwara was unnecessary.

“I don’t think Christian should close their schools to Muslim girls over hijab wearing.

“Also, Christians who go to Muslim schools should not also be forced to wear hijab.”

The DEFENDER reports that there has been no reported case anywhere in Nigeria, North or South, where Christians in public schools, other establishments under Muslim authorities have been forced to wear hijab or subjected to practicing the Muslim way.

In one of its branches in Lagos, JAIZ Bank PLC Christians who occupy vantage positions and are working without their heads covered although women who are Muslims in the Islamic bank are meant to use hijab. It is not so of Christian owned bank anywhere in Nigeria that Muslim female bankers wearing hijab are tolerated for employment.

Our investigations revealed that the moment a woman in hijab appears for job interview, she is automatically disqualified in Christian dominated Southern Nigerian establishments.

In addressing this issue, with regard to Kwara issue, the prelate said: “This is a matter of religious tolerance.”

The prelate stressed the need for peace, unity and tolerance among Nigerians, irrespective of religion or tribe.

He added that the gatemen in his house were Muslims.

“We should also know that there are criminals among Christians and Muslims and I advise we all fish out those criminals so that the law can catch up with them.’’

Uche appealed to adherents of Christianity and Islam in Nigeria not to envy or kill one another in the name of religion, as “we are all one’’.

Earlier in his sermon, President of the Christian Council of Nigeria, Most Rev. Benebo Fubara-Manuel, said everyone in the country needed to be strong and courageous.

Fubara-Manuel, who cited Joshua as an example from the bible, noted that whatever responsibility God has called an individual for, He knows and believes such an individual can do it.

He urged the newly inducted general secretary to be steadfast and courageous in the task ahead, praying that God will be with him.

Onyemara while speaking with journalists assured the church and the council that he would ensure financial and infrastructural development.

“I have been called to service during this critical period and a lot of ideas are in my head.

“I pray God will give me the grace to execute them and we will not be disappointed,’’ he said.

In the meantime, comments extracted from a Yoruba Radio program presentations compiled by Dr Abdullahi Saliu Ishola have shown Prof. AbdulRazaq AbdulMajeed Alaro and another Professor simply called Prof. Ibrahim AbdulQadir Abikan, both of University of Ilorin, saying Kwara Muslims and Christians in Kwara have never had dispute regard religious practice as, according to the duo, they have always lived peacefully together.

Prof. Akanbi particularly asked Kwaran people, Muslims and Christians, to beware of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) as it does not mean well for them.

In the compilation made available as notable quotes on Hijab issues in Kwara State, Prof. Alaro said:

“Hijab is the identity of female Muslims. Denying female Muslims the use of Hijab is tantamount to denying them their identity as Muslims.”

In his own presentation, Prof. Abikan said: “Muslims and Christians of Kwara State are not in disputes, we have all been living peacefully, tolerating each other so much that even a christian child growing up within Muslims would attend Islamic school along with his Muslim peers. Thus, all Kwarans, Muslims and Christians, should beware of CAN (Christians Association of Nigeria) whose leadership may not necessarily be Kwarans and therefore have no stake in our peaceful life, and prevent them from creating crisis in our state.”

Prof. Abikan, speaking in the legality of the hijab and CAN’s distortion of over court judgements as regards the issue, said:

“Both at the High Court and the Court of Appeal, the court declared that all the schools in issue belong to the Government and no longer for the Missionaries. CAN has filed its appeal to the Supreme Court since November 2019 and up till now, March 2021, they have not filed their Brief of Argument, showing that they are not serious about the appeal and are rather interested in creating crisis in the state.

“There is a false claim being circulated by CAN that Hijab was not an issue decided upon by the court. The truth is that one Rev Atóyèbí stated in his affidavit in support of their originating summons that one of the reasons they wanted the government to return the school back to them is because they don’t want the use of Hijab in those schools. Both the High Court and the Court of Appeal ruled against them on this,” he said.