Ifa worshippers have sought to intervene to intervene in the crisis greeting the introduction of the hijab in Christian schools in Kwara State.
The schools founded by Christians but now owned and funded by the state are resisting the wearing of hijabs by Muslim female pupils, a development that has sparked hatred and physical battles.
But lending his voice to the matter on Tuesday, the global head of Ifa priests, otherwise called the Araba Agbaye, Chief Owolabi Aworeni, warned the governor against enforcing the hijab on the schools.
Represented by his deputy, the Araba Oluisese of Ibadan, Ifalere Odegbola, the Araba said during an interview with journalists in Ibadan: “We are appealing to the Governor of Kwara State to caution against steps that are capable of turning Kwara State and the entire country into crises.
“Peace will reign supreme if religions generally are given pride of place. Let the Christian schools be, same for Muslim schools and schools for the traditional worshippers, without any religion lording it over the other.
“A traditional worshipper who decides to attend Christian school should imbibe the Christian practices and principles and ditto for a Christian child who chooses to attend a Muslim school. If he decides to attend the school, he has to abide by the practices.
“It is wrong for a child who belongs to another faith to want to force his way through. The governor should desist from acts that can incite violence or civil disorderliness. Academics should not continue to get interrupted as we have it at the moment.
“In the same vein, we are appealing to the National Assembly to drop the issue of use of hijab; we are warning that religious intolerance should not be allowed to polarise us as a people. Nigeria as a secular nation should be receptive to all religions and people should be free to practice their own faith without any interference.”
