By Correspondent in Ilorin
Muslim stakeholders in Kwara State have warned politicians not to use hijab and schools’ ownership issues, being championed by some Christians in the State, for self glorification unnecessarily.
Rather,they must say the truth and stand firm by the ‘rule of law’, instead of politicizing issues that are purely based on fundamental human rights and respect for the nation’s Constitution and enabling laws of the country.
Muslim Stakeholders of Kwara State made this declaration on Sunday while condemning the statement credited to a former Minister of Youth and Sports, Mr Bolaji Abdullahi, on hijab issue in the state.
In a strongly-worded statement in Ilorin on Sunday, the Chairman of Muslim Stakeholders of Kwara State, Alhaji Ishaq Abdulkarim noted that if the previous administrations of Bukola Saraki and Abdul-Fattah Ahmed had addressed the problems, it would not have lingered till now.
According to Abdulkarim, the former Minister, was also a one-time Commissioner for Education in Kwara State, claimed that the issues being tackled now are not new; but that the previous administration in the state managed it well, adding that it never led to the closure of Schools when they were in office.
Reacting to Abdullahi’s comment, the Muslim Stakeholders advised those in position of authority to be factual, instead of using any ugly situation to attempt to build good image for themselves wrongfully.
The stakeholders asked the question: “Would any Muslim Parent prefer using of hijab to education of their children as wrong, unpatriotic and smacks weak approach to the issue?
According to them, the matter of hijab concerns the fundamental human right and ownership of Schools which has to do with court judgement at the Ilorin High Court and the Court of Appeal; adding that the present administration in the State has to obey the ‘rule of law’.
On the closure of the Schools, Abdulkarim, said: ‘No responsible Government would not shut the schools where Plaintiff (i.e. Kwara CAN) lost its cases in two superior courts of record.
While commending the Kwara Sate Government for closing the affected Schools, temporarily, to protect lives and property, Abdulkarim described Abdullahi’s statement as devoid of standing “by the rule of law, protection of innocent lives and property and defence of the truth.”
He added that the ‘mess’ left behind by the past administration was the one being cleared by the present administration of Mal. Abdul-Razaq Abdul-Rahman.
Abdulkarim said that the former minister needed to be educated on the position and status of hijab in Islam which enjoys the full-backing of all Sharia Authorities, namely the Holy Qur’an, the Sunnah and the Ijmaa (i.e. the consensus of opinions of Muslim Jurists).
According to him, Abdullahi’s suggestion that the issue of hijab for female students could be traded-off for an opportunity to attend a public school could not the test of time.
The Muslim Stakeholders, therefore, enjoined indigenes and non-indegene of thea state desirous to comment of the current issues to jettison their political and religious affiliation and seek for the truth on the matter and “comment responsibly.”
They argued that this would be the best way instead of playing to the gallery of either wanting to score cheap political points or attempting to support or against the Government policy, based on religious sentiment and parochialism.
Abdulkarim commended the state government for issuining official circular to all Principals of Public Schools in Kwara State to conform with State Government policy which permits use of hijab on schools’ uniform across all educational institutions in the State.
While thanking non-muslims who have commented objectively on the matter, inspite of their religious belief, the Chairman called on the state government not to delay, any longer, in re-opening the 10 public schools closed in the wake of the crisis so that educational activities could continue.
