Chairman of the Kwara State chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Most Rev. Paul Olawoore of the Catholic Church, Ilorin Diocese, has condemned the use of force to take control of mission schools by Kwara State government.
He said the diocese was not in agreement with the government over the use of hijab in mission schools, and also said he is not in support of violence in any form.
In his words, 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.”
Also, the CAN’s Director of Ecumenism and Interfaith Dialogue, Rev. Fr. Ralph Ajewole, also denied reports that Christians in the state had agreed to the use of hijab in government grant-aided missions schools, describing them as lies.
He said, “We insist that the Catholic Church rejects and condemns the use of hijab in our mission schools. No matter how hard anyone tries to change the narrative, we stand with CAN that the use of hijab is totally rejected in schools built and owned by Christians.”
The Catholic cleric also described as unpleasant government agents’ forceful breaking of schools’ gates under the watch of armed men.
Going down memory lane, Ajewole said the grant-aiding of schools began in 1974 under the then military governor of the state, Col. David Bamigboye, adding that it was never a complete takeover.
He expressed displeasure over the dilapidated state of facilities in government grant-aided schools, saying that the state government had not been doing much to care for the schools.
Ajewole therefore called on the government to hands off the grant-aiding of mission schools and return them to the original owners.
