Leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria has accused the Governor of Kwara State, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, of religious bias by the blanket approval of the use of hijab in Christian mission schools in the state.
According to a statement issued on Tuesday by Joseph Bade Daramola, the General Secretary of CAN, the Christian body said that the governor had shown open bias for one religion with his eagerness not to wait for the court process to be concluded over the matter before giving his directives on hijab.
Daramola said the governor should, however, take back his government’s approval of wearing of Hijab in schools in the state, including Christian Mission schools or face legal action.
According to CAN, the advice had become necessary because it views the action of the governor of the state as premature and equally detrimental.
“It appears to be a contempt of the court because the governor is aware that there is a pending court case on this matter over which the court had earlier ruled that the status quo should be maintained.
“Is the governor now saying that he is above the law? What is going to spoil if we all wait for the court to pronounce judgement on the matter? Why this hasty action?,” CAN asked.
CAN said that it had resolved to use all lawful means to reverse the order if the government refused to withdraw the directive.
“We recalled that some people took laws into their hands in the state by going from school to school to be enforcing the wearing of hijab in secondary schools, including the schools owned by mission agents but are only grant-aided by the government.
“Instead of the government to caution such trouble makers and admonish them to wait for the court process to be concluded and judgement delivered, the government of Kwara State has shown its religious bias by the blanket approval of the wearing of hijab, even in Christian Mission Schools,” CAN said.