As the Hijab controversy rages on in Kwara State, the Muslim Rights Concern, MURIC, has accused the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, of fueling crisis in the state.
Recall that the state government had ordered the reopening of 10 missionary schools earlier closed down due to their refusal to allow female Muslim students use Hijab in schools.
This is in spite of the state government’s directive to do so.
On Wednesday, violence had erupted at the Baptist Secondary School in Ilorin, resulting in stone-throwing ‘contest’ between Christians and Muslims.
Reacting to the development, the MURIC Director, Ishaq Akintola, in a statement on Thursday, stated that the Christian association should be held responsible for any crisis in these schools and the state as a whole.
Mr Akintola said: “CAN was the one who called on its members to occupy that school.
“Both the Ilorin High Court and the Court of Appeal have ruled in favor of hijab.
“It is therefore illegal, illegitimate, unlawful and unconstitutional for CAN to insist that its members should not obey the courts and the schools should not allow Muslim students to use the hijab or even enter the school premises.
“It is the height of unlawfulness,” he added.
According to Mr Akintola, Nigerians need to pay closer attention to the ongoing crisis in Kwara State.
He said: “It is a well-known fact in modern society that any group that flouts court pronouncement is inviting chaos, and this is exactly what CAN is doing in Kwara State.
“We, therefore, call on stakeholders to call CAN to order.
The director also warned the Kwara State Government against compromising its authority over the issue, saying: “The law is on our side, on hijab we stand.”
“Any attempt by KWSG to spoon-feed CAN or to sweep the right of the Muslim girl-child to wear hijab under the carpet will be resisted by the Muslim community.
“There will be no retreat, no surrender,” he concluded.
