Christians
in Osun State, especially members of the Osun Baptists Conference, on
Monday protested against the attempted merger of Muslim students wearing
hijab with the Baptists High School, Iwo, under the new education
policy introduced by Governor Rauf Aregbesola.
Aregbesola last week inaugurated a new
education policy in Osun, which the governor said had necessitated
re-classification and merger of public schools in the state to reflect
the new education system.
The governor, who expressed worry about
the protest, however, urged the people to cooperate with the school
restructuring, saying the policy was introduced as part of
transformation of the education sector by his government.
Aggrieved Christians armed with Holy
Bible and Hymn books trooped to the Baptists High School as early as
7:30am and dislodged the students and prevented teachers from entering
the school premises.
They said that the merger of the
schools, if allowed to succeed, would obliterate the Baptist heritage
and that they would not allow hijab-wearing students in a school founded
by Christian missionaries.
The Christian protesters defied the
presence of armed security operatives and insisted that they would not
allow the merger to work.
Presiding minister for the 35 Baptist
churches in Iwo land, Rev. Bayo Ademuyiwa, said the church had nothing
against the government’s attempt to equip schools in the state but he
said that the church would not allow any attempt to erase its identity
and heritage.
He said, “Our forefathers and
missionaries sacrificed their lives, resources and everything to
establish schools, reputable schools with morals and values and that is
why the Baptists in Iwo land are here to protect our schools.
“Without any doubt, the Baptists in the
state are known for excellence, decorum and dignity. These virtues are
highly cherished by the Nigerian Baptist Convention and this is the
reason why the Baptists are making these two submissions which are,
“Baptists in Iwo land say no to merger of schools and Baptists in Iwo
land say no to the use of hijab in Baptists schools.
“While we welcome genuine efforts to
provide modern infrastructures and equipments in schools in Osun State,
the Baptists see merger of schools as a step in the wrong direction as
it will rob us of our identity and bring more pains to parents and
students.”
Chairman, Osun State Christian
Association of Nigeria, Rev. Elisha Ogundiya, also said that CAN would
not allow any programme to erase the legacy of the Church.
Ogundiya said, “We have maintained this
stand from inception and we will continue to defend lawfully what belong
to us as Christians in the state.”
“As a major stakeholder in the state,
the leadership of CAN expects the state government to invite us to
discuss this issue without delay. We wish to explain it clearly that at
no time did the new leadership of CAN in Osun held any meeting with the
state government on the issue of merger of schools.”
But the governor, in a statement by his
media aide, Semiu Okanlawon, allayed the fears , promising that the
interest of all groups, organisations, religious and social bodies would
be protected in the ongoing re-classification and reform.
He urged the people of the state to
discountenance and dismiss “any untrue and baseless insinuation” critics
of the government might be spreading across the state.
PUNCH
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