Osun hijab crisis: Aregbesola warns students

– Students created scenes in two schools in Osun state as they appeared in church garments

– Governor Rauf Aregbesola said that students who disobey school rules risk expulsion

– The governor denied interfering with the court judgement that allowed female Muslim students to wear hijab to school

– He noted that it was not the business of any government to lead a child in a particular religious direction

Students created scenes in two schools in Osun state as they appeared in church garments.
Rauf Aregbesola, the governor of Osun state, said that students who disobey school rules in the state risk expulsion.

Premium Times reports that the governor issued the warning on Tuesday, June 14, while commissioning St Michael’s RCM Government Middle School in Ibokun.

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) had earlier directed Christian pupils to wear choir robes and other church garments to public schools should the state government implements the court judgment on hijab.

On Tuesday, June 14, the students created scenes in two schools in the state as they appeared in church garments and were not sent away.

No student was sent out of the class for appearing in different clothes.
CAN official were present at the schools to ensure the students were allowed in their robes to attend classes.

Reacting to the development, Aregbesola denied interfering with the court judgement that allowed female Muslim students to wear hijab to school.He also advised those aggrieved with the court judgement to channel their grievances according to the rule of law.

“The Judiciary is an independent arm of government, the decisions of which are not subject to any influence by other arms of government.

“It is funny for some people to insinuate that government has a hand in the judgement.

“The government is a democracy, not a theocracy.‎ Any student found disobeying school rule and regulation risks expulsion from our schools,” he warned.

Teachers were on duty teaching the students as usual without distraction.
Aregbesola noted that it was not the business of any government to lead a child in a particular religious direction, adding that it was the duty of parents and religious institutions.

“I believe also that parents and society should complement the government in shaping the minds of the pupils to be receptive to knowledge and godly character formation; to be sensitive to the need of others, the plurality of our society and the imperative of mutual toleration.

“They should also be brought up to be team players, even when in a competitive environment.

“It amounts to subversion of the educational needs of a child for them to be drawn into and used for political purposes,” he said.