Re: ‘Who will save Kwara?’ —Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, SAN -By Pat Chioma Agu

PROMOTION OF DURABLE PLACE AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT THROUGH RELIGION IN OUR WORLD: A CASE STUDY OF A CONTEMPORARY ISSUE OF HIJAB IN KWARA STATE, NIGERIA

KEYNOTE ADDRESS DELIVERED ON THE THEME ” PROMOTION OF DURABLE PLACE AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT THROUGH RELIGION IN OUR WORLD: A CASE STUDY OF A CONTEMPORARY ISSUE OF HIJAB IN KWARA STATE, NIGERIA” BY BISHOP PROF. FUNMILAYO ADESANYA-DAVIES ON THE PRESENTATION OF CERTIFICATES TO NEW UN-POLAC INTERNATIONAL PEACE ADVOCATES, ON SATURDAY FEBRUARY 12TH, 2022 AT ALL SOULS FOR CHRIST MISSION INTERNATIONAL INC. BENIN CITY NIGERIA.

PROTOCOL
Director General; Prof. Obong Halo B. Eton, Director General, UN-POLAC,
Chairman of the Occasion; Bishop Dr. Orineme O. Kure
Guest Speaker; Alhaji Paxman Ekpuze AmbP
Chief Host; Rev. Dr. (Mrs.) Dina U. Oyakhilome
Lord Spiritual and Temporal,
Government Officials, Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and gentlemen &
The Gentlemen Press.

OPENING AND GREETINGS
It is my honour and pleasure to address us all at this auspicious occasion of today’s APPOINTMENT AND PRESENTATION OF CERTIFICATES TO THE NEW UN-POLAC INTERNATIONAL PEACE ADVOCATES HERE IN THIS GLORIOUS CHURCH AND ASSEMBLY; WITH THE THEME: “PROMOTION OF DURABLE PEACE AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT THROUGH RELIGION IN OUR WORLD”. THE VENUE OF THIS EVENT “ALL SOULS FOR CHRIST MISSION INTERNATIONAL INC. BENIN CITY”, NIGERIA. IS WELL DESERVED; AS I COULD RECALL THE ROLES OF OUR LATE ARCH. BISHOP BENSON IDAHOSA IN OUR NATION NIGERIA, THE ALMIGHTY GOD SHALL HELP US TO PLAY THE SAME ROLE HERE TODAY BY HIS SPECIAL GRACE.

Introduction: Ladies and Gentlemen, Men and Brethren: It’s high time for us all as individuals, groups, nations and continents of the world to be focused in times as this on speaking to the powers towards Promotion of Durable Peace And Sustainable Development Through Religion In Our World. This is why I have chosen A Particular and Peculiar Case Study of A Contemporary Issue of Hijab in Kwara State, Nigeria.

Background: Why Do We Practice and Study Religion?
We practice and study Religion towards promotion of durable Peace and Sustainable Development in our society and the entire world. “In a world where people of all faiths are migrating and mingling like never before, if we ignore the global impact of religion it would be at our peril.” – Madeleine Albright, United States Secretary of State. Now, we live in an age of rapid globalization – the transformation of the world into a single, highly interconnected entity of unity. We all travel extensively throughout the world. We interact with friends, neighbours, work colleagues and perhaps even relatives include people from many countries and cultures. In such a world, we are all in the process of learning as fast as we can on how to relate to people who differ from us in significant ways.

Religion plays a unique role in preparing us to be simple, humble, well mannered, tolerant,, educated and enlightened citizens because our religious beliefs and religious education helps us deal with “otherness,” which is a task inherent to the future of the world in this era of globalization. The theologian Paul Tillich demonstrated that religion is culture’s “dimension of depth”: the foundation of the way most people think and feel. Teaching religious ethics and studies is a direct way to help us understand the diverse cultures of the world in which we live, not to mention the diverse peoples and worldviews that make up today’s societies.

Again and most importantly, Basic questions of human existence are addressed by religion: the meaning and purpose of life; the presence and interpretation of death, sorrow and suffering; the existence and nature of God; the contours of morality and justice; and the possibilities of transcendence, salvation, peace, and liberation for individuals and communities. Individuals and students with major knowledge in Religion, whatever their career goals may be, will find themselves equipped to navigate skilfully in culturally pluralistic, diverse world with its many approaches to these essential questions.

Religious programs for instance in schools and higher institutions always have a global focus. Students concentrating in Religion gain a broad knowledge of the major religions of the world from geographical, historical, literary, cultural, ethical, and political perspectives. Many choose to focus their advanced courses in one or two religious traditions, while others pursue interests in comparative topics like the environment, race, gender, or medicine. In classrooms, we observe religion as a human phenomenon that evolves over time and adapts to new contexts and challenges. Students of diverse religious commitments, or no religious commitments, thrive in schools generally.

Religion similarly helps us to understand other people and their cultures. Religion concerns what people believe is most true and most meaningful in life; it powerfully shapes culture and deeply influences people’s behaviours, promotion of durable Peace and Sustainable Development.

In this paper presentation, I would focus on ‘A Case Study of A Contemporary Issue of Hijab in Kwara State, Nigeria / AN OPEN LETTER TO THE KWARA STATE GOVERNOR, KWARA STATE GOVERNMENT AND FEDERAL MINISTRY OF EDUCATION BY UN-POLAC – By The Country President.

RE: KWSG STATEMENT ON OYUN BAPTIST HIGH SCHOOL IJAGBO

– Return the Christian named/faith-based public schools to the Church Owners— UN-POLAC
– Adesanya-Davies to Abdulrahan AbdulRasaq: “Kwara people are not happy with you, please, they need their usual peace!

It’s notably so sad, and it’s not a good development in Nigeria that “Hijab controversy turns bloody as Christian parents clash in Kwara school” as reported by Premium Times and others last week again. It’s unfair that Nigeria’s Kwara state on Tuesday takes sides by reaffirming its stance of allowing Muslim girls to wear their hijab to Christian named/faith-based schools, thus tolerating religious bigotry at educational institutions, while in the same breath stating that, “it will not tolerate any form of religious bigotry at educational institutions. – In a statement made and published by the State Commissioner for Education and Human Capital Development, Hajia Sa’adatu Modibbo-Kawu.

We at the UN-POLAC are disturbed by the current happenings in Kwara state, Nigeria, the home state of our Country President on hijab crisis, in a state known as the STATE OF HARMONY. It’s so sad that this matter is rearing its head once again after all last year’s Ilorin incidences.

May I repeat that, ‘It is with a very sad and heavy heart that we at UN-POLAC similarly read in the news the release by the Kwara State Government that the Christian named/faith-based public schools are now being referred to as government-owned, as in the case of Oyun Baptist High School, Ijagbo, on Thursday.

The Kwara State Government in support of the Muslim community through Hajia Sa’adatu Modibbo Kawu, Honourable Commissioner for Education and Human Capital Development has released to the press that: “The Kwara State Government unreservedly condemns the flagrant act of discrimination against anyone, especially children, on religious grounds. Such discrimination will not be tolerated in any public-owned institution in the state ….” February 3, 2022.

On the contrary, “the Oyo State Government Policy on Hijab Wearing affirmative” states that, “For the avoidance of doubt, the government of Engineer ‘Seyi Makinde will not tamper with the codes that have guaranteed religious freedom and harmony in our dear state over time and that is why it will continue to keep faith with the existing circular endorsed by the state government as far back as 2013. He stated:
“In accordance with the government circular letter dated October 27, 2013, the government of Oyo State through the Ministry of Education had resolved among other things as follows:
(i) In Muslim named/faith-based public schools, the usage/wearing of hijab as part of the school uniform is allowed in accordance with Islamic tradition/religious belief of student who may wish to do so.
(ii) In Christian named/faith-based public schools, the student’s uniform should be in line with established tradition of the school and Christian religion.
(iii) In Community based public schools the usage/wearing of a common hijab/beret by female students is permissible. This is however optional for parents/students who wish to do so.
(iv) Under No circumstance or guise should any student/parents, group, or body contravene the provisions in paragraphs i, ii, and iii above. Any contravention of these provisions would attract appropriate disciplinary sanctions including immediate expulsion of affected students from school.
(v) Peaceful atmosphere, conducive to teaching and learning must be maintained in every school, as the government will not hesitate to close down any school where there is religious unrest.
“The circular had notified all school administrators to immediately comply with the guidelines, while adding that the circular letter was meant to complement all previous circulars on Religious Worship, Tolerance and Activities in schools,” the statement said.

We read that, NSCEA therefore admonishes the Kwara State Government to take a leaf from their counterparts, the Oyo State Government’s Policy on “Hijab wearing affirmative action”; remembering that Kwara State is a Yoruba state and Yoruba states are known for their being peaceful and law abiding. This is a very good admonition.

May I seize this opportunity to speak in my capacity as the Country President of UN-POLAC International Peace Advocates in the country, in the interest of peace: As the leadership of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the Country and Kwara state have stated and insisted that “they will never allow the use of hijab in the Christian named/faith-based public schools, and that their schools should be returned to them by the Kwara State government”, by way of peaceful resolution as requested, it’s my advice and advocacy that, their schools be peacefully returned to them as promised by the State government last year as a matter of urgency, since these schools were originally Missionary/ Mission Christian Schools.

This is because for instance, it would be unheard of that a Celestial Christian pupil/student would wear her White Christian Church robe/garment at an Ansaru-Islam School. It will therefore be wise to take a leaf from the former Kwara State government/governors such as Senator Olusola Saraki, who never rocked the boat, but let the sleeping dog lie. CAN has reinstated that “It blames government’s inaction for bloody violence over hijab at Kwara schools,” it would be good to end this vicious cycle.

Again, the Minister for Education, Malam Adamu Adamu has called for dialogue on matters of religious differences, rather than resorting to violence. Adamu made the call while delivering his keynote address at the 2022 World Hijab Day Public Lecture, entitled: ‘The Hijab as a Metaphor of our National Aspirations.’ The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the public lecture was organised by Coalition of Muslim Women of Nigeria.

But I, Funmilayo Adesanya-Davies, as an Int’l Peace Advocate and an academic would like to explain that, in fact, those women, treating, “The Hijab as a Metaphor of our Nigerian National Aspirations’ is non-inclusive and as such very wrong ,because Nigeria is not an Islamic State and that it would be unconstitutional to do so. Again, Hijab cannot be a Metaphor of Nigeria’s National aspirations, because Nigeria is a secular and multi-religious state, as founded by our forefathers. This cannot be possible until we split the country into about five (5) nations or Republics viz:
1. Arewa-Hausa Islamic Republic
2. Yoruba Oduduwa Republic
3. Middle-Belt Republic
4. Biafra Christian Republic
5. Niger Delta Republic
(In an ADVANCED RESTRUCTURING AGENDA). It’s only after then that some can pursue such an agenda but for now Nigeria is still one nation.

In another development, NHRC’s Executive Secretary, Tony Ojukwu, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, made the call on Saturday in response to reports of alleged harassment and rejection of some Muslim female students wearing hijab to school in Offa, Ijagbo and Oyun communities in Kwara State, a statement by the commission’s spokesperson, Fatimah Muhammed.

He stated that “To avoid unnecessary situations that could lead to violence, all religious groups should respect the constitutionally guaranteed rights to freedom of religion and worship,” the statement by the commission quoted Mr Ojukwu as saying. “He urged those who unnecessarily light the flames of religious intolerance to stop and instead pursue a peaceful coexistence., saying ‘Don’t stop people from wearing hijab’ He cited Section 38(1) of the Nigerian Constitution, as well as other various regional and international treaties, in which the right to freedom of religion and worship is recognised. “It is strange and smacks of intolerance to stop someone from wearing a hijab when freedom of worship has expressly been granted by the Constitution and other relevant legislation”.

Contrarily, let me expound that, we need to ‘call a spade a spade’, it is very good to wear Hijab, if one likes it. In fact, I have several Yoruba ‘Gele’ (head-gears they call them in Nigerian English) a collection of more than 50 scarfs as a woman, and many Bishop clerical with coverings, but there is no point wearing them to lecture in my University in the past 36 years. That would be uncalled for. I also tell my students, don’t dress to my class naked in spite of your freedom and liberty. So there is no need for Muslim pupils and students to wear Hijab in Christian Schools or even Christian students to wear Church chorister-robes to any school let alone to An-Sarudeen College. “To avoid unnecessary situations that could lead to violence, all religious groups should be urged to live in peace and those who are unnecessarily lighting the flames of religious intolerance should stop and instead pursue a peaceful coexistence by respecting others’ boundaries and codes or stay off their schools, since Islam is said to be a religion of peace.

To the girls, as the UN-POLAC Int’l Peace Advocates Country President and their teacher, I say “please, face your studies, ‘don’t wear hijab to Christian schools if not allowed’ my dear girls, don’t intimidate the school owners, authority and your teachers. If you do, what are you learning in schools then, where is their honour and respect, if you are so adamant, disobedient, arrogant and non-compliant. Obedience is good for you, obedience is better than sacrifice the holy Book says. Rather, choose to go to Muslim Islamic compliant schools if you must wear hijab. Explain to your parents you want an Islamic private school. Remember you are the leaders of tomorrow when WE are all gone; because it is only you people that can resolve this problem with your parents really. Tell them, ‘He who plays the piper dictates the tune.’ We can’t disobey our school authorities.”

Again, I speak as a Kwaran, and a stakeholder in Kwara state, I beg you Governor Abdulrahan AbdulRasaq of Kwara state in the name of any thing you hold so dear and in the name of Our Lord Jesus Christ and God the Creator of heaven and earth, LET PEACE REIGN in Kwara state of Harmony as you round up your tenure, because you and your siblings also attended these Missionary Schools at (St. Joseph) as we all did in those days and there were no such problems with School Uniforms. All was well. There is no need biting the fingers that fed you. As for those of us who studied Education as a discipline, the School Uniform we were made to understand is part and parcel of the ‘School Curriculum’ and as such it’s the prerogative of the School authorities and PTA, and not that of pupils, individual parents or government.

May I conclude that, “As a teacher in a University of Education since 1988, we always teach that, ‘Any Child or Parent that cannot abide with School rules and code of conducts of a particular school should change to another, they should feel free to choose another school of their own choice. Enough of sociopathy! Enough of sycophancy!! Enough is enough in Kwara state!!!

Internationally, this situation is not strange nor unique, we had read the headline on INDIA NEWS, New Delhi, Feb 03, 2022 08:29 PM just last week titled: “Karnataka: Muslim students barred entry in hijab, minister says keep religion away” | Latest News India – Hindustan Times”. It further reads, Araga Jnanendra, the home minister says, “Keep Religion Away. He also asked police to keep a watch on religious organisations that are trying to undermine the country’s unity over the issue”. He added, “Religion should be kept away from education and students should neither come wearing hijab or saffron shawls to schools, said the Home Minister, Karnataka Araga Jnanendra.

The home minister’s statement came in the wake of a major controversy erupting in different parts of the state over the wearing of hijab (headscarf) by Muslim girls to educational institutes. He further said no one should come to school to practise their religion with uniforms as this is where all students should learn together with a feeling of oneness.” School is a leveller, I believe in the same School Uniform for the rich and the poor students, Christian and Muslim, black and white in a Mission School according to the foundation of the missionaries, – With no discrimination, no segregation, no embarrassment. All are one! They aren’t brides and wives but children.

According to a PTI report, Muslim girls of the government pre-university college at Kundapur in Udupi district, who reached the institution wearing ‘hijab’ (headscarf) were stopped at the gate by the college principal during the day. The principal informed the students that they are not allowed to wear hijab inside the classrooms and asked them to remove the head dress and enter classes.

However, Kundapur MLA Halady Srinivas Shetty spoke to the Muslim girls and their parents, but the latter continued to insist on the right to wear hijabs. State fisheries minister and Udupi district-in-charge S Angara said the status quo ordered by the state government disallowing hijabs inside classrooms will continue. Jnanendra said, “Schools are the place where children belonging to all religions should learn together and imbibe a feeling that we are not different, and all are children of Bharat Mata.”

Adding that, “There are places like churches, mosques and temples for people to freely practise their religion and offer prayers, while at schools there should be an academic atmosphere for children to develop a culture of national unity and integrity. Calling on everyone to think in this direction, he said, “There are religious organisations who think otherwise, I have asked police to keep a watch on them. Those who cause hindrance or undermine this country’s unity, they have to be dealt with”. Responding to a question about Hindu students wearing saffron shawls as a retaliatory move, Jnanendra said no one should come to school for practicing their religion. In Nigerian schools, it’s in the same vein that Deeper Life Christian students need not tie their heads with scarfs if the school authority says no – Adesanya-Davies further exemplifies.

Moreover, as the Nigerian Supreme Council for Ecclesiastical Affairs (NSCEA) has lamented the current incident in Kwara state on hijab, speaking to correspondent at NewsChristian Network, we hereby join to them to appeal to His Excellency, the Kwara State Governor and Government that they should please give peace a chance as the father, mother and servant to all and respect the Christian named/faith-based public schools as mission schools on Churches compounds and not take them as government-owned, but grant aiding as named. Actually, the list of schools includes:
1)- Oyun Baptist High School (OBHS), Ijagbo.
2)- St Clare’s Girls School, Offa
3)- Ipee Baptist High School, Ipee.
4)- Anglican College of Commerce (ACC), Offa.
5)- St Mark’s School, Offa
6)- Baptist School, Agun.
(Christian named/faith-based public schools/Grants-Aided).

This is like illegitimate authority in its full swing. Wearing hijab in public is not even required by law in Saudi Arabia. Similarly, in modern Iran, the wearing of hijab is not common and is only worn by certain ethnic minorities and a minority of Arab Muslims in the southern Iran. Or ‘there is more to this than meets the eye? Is it more than “garment for School Uniform”? or it’s the Islamisation and Fulanization of Christian institutions in Kwara state and Nigeria !? NSCEA has asked.

To buttress it all, I have again read an article titled, ‘Who will save Kwara?’ by Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, SAN. He complained that, “The news headlines are as confusing as the policy itself: “Use of Hijab/Beret in Schools: Kwara Govt Insists its Optional”; “We Will Not Allow Hijab in Mission Schools, Kwara CAN Insists”; “Kwara Re-affirms Use of Hijab in Public Schools”; “Kwara Govt Shuts Baptist School Over Hijab Crisis”; “We Never Agreed on Usage of Hijab in Our Schools, says Kwara CAN”; etc. Thus, Kwara State got back in the news again, this time for the wrong reason.

So disturbed, the SAN said that, “The question that I’ve been asking myself in respect of this matter is this: why should a State government get involved in religion? Is the governor not aware that Nigeria runs a secular State and no government is expected to dabble into religious matters, to support one group against the other? In the course of last week, it took the timely intervention of the police to stop the brewing violence in the Ijagbo area of the State, over the hijab controversy at Oyun Baptist High School. The school had to be closed down, eventually, following the free-for-all over the use of hijab by female students in the school.

Adding that, ‘in the past, I saw videos of some people who assembled opposite what looked like a big cathedral, from where they were hauling stones and other dangerous objects, into the compound of the Baptist Church, where the school is located. Why should this happen? We dwell too much on minors. Now in some years past, certain missionary organisations got permission from the government to establish churches and other worship centres, as facilities for the practice of their faith, where their members gather to serve God. Over the years, some of these worship centres grew in leaps and bounds and they were handed over upon independence, to the local members, to further their legitimate objectives. As part of their corporate social responsibility, some of these churches established schools, hospitals and even justice centres, where the indigent and needy can have access to social services.”

We at UN-POLAC says, this is unacceptable in Kwara state, Nigeria and needs to stop NOW. We have responded to SAVE Kwara State, Nigeria this openly believing the Governor Abdulrahan AbdulRasaq and his Government will grant us listening hears and give heed to our voices of reasoning and appeal. As grant aided schools, I recon, the state is only performing their part of corporate social responsibility, to these missionary schools by granting them aids which they could withdraw for sake of lasting peace in Kwara State as requested by CAN. As Peace advocates, our duty is PEACE AND JUSTICE. Thank you!

Long live UN-POLAC!
Long live Kwara State, The “State of harmony!”
Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria!

Closing remarks
On this note, I hereby congratulate the entire members of UN-POLAC PEACE ADVOCATES and well wishers, while I declare open today’s event of APPOINTMENT AND PRESENTATION OF CERTIFICATES TO THE NEW PEACE ADVOCATES. Always remember that s Peace advocates, our duty is to always ensure PEACE AND JUSTICE at everywhere.
PEACE, NOBLE!!! PEACE, NOBLE!!! PEACE, NOBLE!!!
Thank you all for your kind attention.

PROF. FUNMILAYO ADESANYA-DAVIES
INTERNATIONAL DIRECTOR, COUNTRY PRESIDENT, UN-POLAC
(NIGERIAN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE, MASS ACTION JOINT ALLIANCE – MAJA 2019).

Reference
http://thereflection.com.ng/2022/02/06/can-blames-govts-inaction-for-bloody-violence-over-hijab-at-kwara-school/
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/ktaka-muslim-students-barred-entry-in-hijab-minister-says-keep-religion-away-101643893401162.html