Religious issue in Nigeria is considered as a delicate and fragile one and people do not want to hand le
it without care. I see it as one of the aspects of the area of
diversities like ethnics, ideologies and political parties. We cannot
say it is more combustible than the anachronistic political entities, as
it is periodically triggered, particularly during election in Nigeria. I
don’t thus, see religion issue as sensitive as people take it, though
this is one of the area of discuss that one need to exercise cautions
before passing comments.
First and foremost I need to make
some issues clear. We condemn the killing of Boko Haram in this country
and we say loud and clear that their act is not sourced from Islam. If
they are Muslims they must prioritize peaceful co-existence which is
cardinal to the teachings of Islam. No place in Quran and Hadith enjoys
killing of innocent soul.
It is thus horrendous drama for
journalists to refer to a reactionary group or better terrorist groups
as Islamist; we pray that this would not be proliferated any further.
Not even during holy wars, Muslims are disallowed from burning down
churches and synagogues (QURAN 40;22).
OSUN STATE BRANCH OF CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (C A N)
I am disillusioned by the recent press statement of the Christian
Association of Nigeria (C A N), Osun State branch as in all indication
they have turn to a political organization that does not cater for the
national unity but to cause confusion and disunity in the State of Osun
just like national body of Christian Association of Nigeria (C A N)
which has always act as fuel to religious and tribal crisis in the
country.
How do you establish the fact that Rauf Aregbesola
want to Islamize Osun State when the Muslims were not in good term with
his over-secularized disposition, to accuse him of Islamizing the state
of Osun is a fallacious irritant. Aregbesola who has pronounced many
statements that is questionable in Islamic creed, who has given
supplementary recognition to the traditional worshipers in the State of
Osun contrary to the principle of Islam. How is the man Islamizing the
state of Osun?
The same Muslim of Osun state approached Rauf
Aregbesola with the request that the state should allow the Muslim girls
in the public school to use Hijab, the governor partly granted their
request when he said Hijab would not be used in Christians own public
schools in the state. Bear it in mind, the same schools are under the
total control of government without reservation and the maintenance and
salary is paid by the government.
The Muslims maintain the
position that Muslims girls in school must be allowed to put on Hijab in
school premises. Here! No one invite or enforce Hijab on the
non-Muslims.
What is Hijab? It is a term use to describe a
dressing code prescribed by Quran and Sunnah of prophet which is the
source of rule/law for all Muslims in the world. Stricto senso, a true
Muslim don’t have option than to dress in accordance to the prescription
of Allah in Quran and Hadith. We can now say, Hijab is part of Islam
and the Constitution of Nigeria guarantee the freedom of religion in
chapter 4.
The concern Muslims of Osun State felt cheated as
the Muslims girls are not allow to use Hijab in some public schools by
the government of Osun state, they are very sure of the fact that this
is an inalienable right of Muslims and the court must enforce it. Is it
wrong for the concerned Muslims to have taken reasonable and lawful
steps of exploring the court of law?
Some groups of people
under the umbrella of Christian Association of Nigeria (C A N) went
ahead to exhibit and celebrate what we call religion intolerance and
sheer ignorant. In the press conference organized by C A N which was
published in many media, it was up-stretched that Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola
was trying to Islamize Osun state. One wonders the level of reasoning
of the spear headers of this horrendous celebration of share oblivious.
The Administration of Rauf Aregbesola was sued by the Muslims for
refusing to respect their fundamental right (freedom of religion) and
some political tool under the disguise of C A N in Osun state went ahead
to broadcast publicly that such a man who is seen by some Muslims
including the writer as anti-Islam is trying to Islamize Osun State.
One expects such organization like C A N to be intellectually based and
not descend so low to be used as political tools. Religion organization
of this nature is supposed to be a bridge builder as any form of
religion intolerance will not take them to any level.
ABDULSALAM ABDULFATAH LIBERTY
from Ilorin
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