Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq of Kwara State has vowed that the state government’s policy on hijab issue would remain despite “reckless attempts by some fifth columnists to polarise the state along religious lines using the settled question of hijab in public schools as a smokescreen to advance their evil intent.”
In a statement by his spokesman, Rafiu Ajakaye, in Ilorin on Tuesday, the governor maintained the state government’s earlier position on the hijab question.
He declared that, “based on the subsisting court judgements which were built on the constitution, Federal and state laws, principle of pluralism and sanctity of the right of every person to their identity, especially in public, the use of hijab in public schools is a constitutional right that the government shall protect for anyone and everyone willing to use it.
“Government’s strategic patience in handling delicate matters involving the people it swore to protect is not same as pandering to anyone’s whims.
“Consequently, the state governor stands firmly by government’s policy on the permissibility of hijab for every Muslim girl child who desires to wear it in all public schools.”
It appealed to the people of the state to not allow agents of fake news and disinformation to mislead them and set them against one another.
“The state government is beholden only to the law, truth and fairness to all at all times”, the statement added.
The hijab issue turned violent recently at Ijagbo Baptist High School, in the Oyun Local Government Area of the state following a protest my some Muslims who reacted against the school management’s refusal to allow Muslim schoolgirls to enter the school premises.
One person was reportedly killed while others were injured in the violence that erupted.
