The order by the Kwara State Government to allow female Muslim students wear hijab in all public schools, including those founded by the Christian mission in the State has created an impasse, an impediment to academic excellence in Kwara State. The hijab controversy has not only heightened tension among Christian and Muslim stakeholders; but has also assumed a dangerous twist. BARBARA NEGBEJIE seeks the views of some Nigerians.
‘Let the church resist this creeping intimidation to the fullest’
It is becoming a worrisome aberration which the predominant Muslim government is trying to enforce nationwide but the Church is not making its objection heard in the degree that I would expect. Let the Church resist this creeping intimidation to the fullest. It’s a breech of their rights to free expression in form of the lifestyle they want to live.
‘It is not compulsory that hijab wearing female students attend Christian missionary schools’
No, it is a bad policy by the Kwara State Government to make such policy decision to provide and enforce use of hijab in Christian missionary schools. The government is wrong. It is like foisting Islamic practices on Christians. If it is a public school being maintained by tax payers’ money, it could be defended. But the government does not have the right to force Christian missionary schools to wear hijab as they have their own practices. It is not compulsory that hijab wearing female students or pupils must attend Christian missionary schools. So any hijab wearing students have an option not to attend the said missionary schools. They can as well attend public schools and/or Islamic institution where such is allowed. The management of the missionary schools should resist the intimidation and blackmail by the Kwara State Government. The government of Kwara State has abandoned good governance but resorted to chasing shadows.
‘The kwara action is wrong and capable of causing religious crisis’
Is kwara State practicing state religion? Is Nigeria no more a secular nation? The kwara State government action is wrong and capable of causing religious crisis.
We should all reject this policy’
How can it be right to dictate to a person on what to wear/ put on? Why should the government of kwara state force its religious beliefs on its people? The constitution of the country forbids the wearing of hijab because of terrorist attack in recent times now and here one governor wants to impose this on us? We should all reject this policy as it is a plan from the northerners to take over the country by using this wicked scheme to move arms and ammunition undetected and even have more suicide bombers at large. Say no to Northern take over, say no to Hijab, say no to terrorism and banditry.
‘The wearing of the hijab by Moslem women is reportedly introduced to distinguish the wives of Prophet Mohammed’
The wearing of the hijab by Moslem women is reportedly introduced to distinguish the wives of Prophet Mohammed whom he had consummated from other women. Over the years this has been adopted by Moslem women The hijab may not be traditional to the Moslem faith alone. The Jewish Talmud which predates the Islamic practice by many centuries also encouraged the wearing of the hijab. However, the majority of modern Christians do not regard wearing of the hijab as a divine instruction. The bible does not give specific instructions on hijab wearing, though it admonishes Christian women to cover their heads, as a sign of honour to their husbands, while praying. This cannot be viewed as the same as donning hijab publicly. The donning of hijab is faith-based. Those who don’t see it as a divine instruction should not be compelled or forced to go contrary to their beliefs. If you forbid eating pork and no one forces you to eat it, don’t force anyone who doesn’t believe in wearing hijab to do so either.
