The Metropolitan Archbishop of Ibadan Diocese, Gabriel Abegunrin, has charged the Kwara State government to handle the hijab crisis in the state with care to forestall it from degenerating into a religious crisis.
Rev Father Abegunrin made the charge on Thursday, in a brief chat with journalists after the 2021 Easter Tridium program called Holy Thursday at St. Mary’s Cathedral, Oke Padre, Ibadan.
The cleric noted that if the issue should get out of hand in Ilorin, it may spread to other states, “and It may be the beginning of a religious war.
“The state government should, therefore, promptly intervene on the violence that trailed the wearing of Hijab in the state to return Ilorin to its status as the town of peace and harmony.”
Recall that the Kwara State Government closed some schools on February 19 over a dispute about the wearing of hijab by Muslim female students in some of the schools.
There was a violent protest in Ilorin, Kwara State capital, on Wednesday, March 17, morning after school officials at Baptist School, Surulere, prevented female students wearing hijab from entering the school.
The decision to bar the Muslim students from entering the school on Wednesday, despite a government decision, did not go down well with some parents, leading to a violent face-off.
In another development, Most Rev. Abegunde, in his Easter message on the significance of the Easter season, described Christ cross as a sign of blessing and salvation for humanity.
He charged Christians to emulate Jesus Christ in humility and perseverance, adding that “God is alive; pray, do the right thing at the right time. Let’s pray for peace and be peaceful.”
Meanwhile, the parish priest, Patrick Akinjo, stated this in his sermon at St Mary’s Catholic Church, Oke Padre, Ibadan, during its Holy Thursday service.
