Hijab controversy: Catholic church fumes, says no agreement was reached with Kwara govt
- The Catholic church has insisted that the use of hijab would not be implemented in Kwara state
- Most Rev. Paul Olawoore, the Catholic Bishop of Ilorin Diocese, made this known on Tuesday, March 30
- The state government had ordered the implementation of the use of hijab in all public schools in the state
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Following the crisis rocking Kwara state over the implementation of the use of hijab in public schools, the Catholic Bishop of Ilorin Diocese, Most Rev. Paul Olawoore, has again rejected the government's directive.
PM News reports that he said the church was not in agreement with the government over the use of hijab in mission schools.
Legit.ng gathered that the cleric also condemned the government’s use of force to take control of mission schools in the state.
Despite his stance against the government on the issue, Olawoore discouraged any form of violence within and outside the state.
He said:
“I don’t want any confrontation that will inflict pain or any kind of injury on anybody. Neither do I wish that anyone should lose his or her life on this issue.”
The Punch also reports that the prelate who is also chairman of the Kwara state chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), said it is the time to join hands to show that peaceful coexistence and tolerance was the way to go.
The CAN’s director of Ecumenism and Interfaith Dialogue, Rev. Fr. Ralph Ajewole, denied reports that Christians in the state had agreed to the use of hijab in government mission schools.
Ajewole, however, described such reports as lies.
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Meanwhile, Legit.ng had previously reported that the Kwara government led by Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq was advised to respect the rule of law concerning schools of religious bodies in the state.
It was reported that the appeal was made by the Kwara Baptist Conference in a statement issued by the president, Rev’d. Dr. V.S.A Dada.
The conference had described the state government's action of closing religious bodies schools as committing contempt of court over the issue.
Rev'd Dada went on to note that the matter is still pending before the Supreme Court, adding that a high court ordered the existing status quo be maintained.
Source: Legit.ng