Hijab: Peace must prevail in Kwara, says Cleric

An Islamic Cleric, Prof. Abubakar Imam-Aliagan, has called on Muslim and Christian leaders to ensure that peace reign supreme in Kwara.

He admonished the faithful of both religions to peacefully resolve the issue of Hijab for female Muslim students in 10 government grant-aided missionary schools across the state.

Imam-Aliagan, who made the appeal on Friday during his Sermon on Madrasat Muhammad, said the peaceful coexistence between the two religious groups must be paramount.

The cleric gave the advice following recent clash between Christians and Muslims over the approval by Kwara Government for Muslim school girls to wear Hijab.

He called on the State Government to take final resolution on the matter, adding that there had always been history of peace and harmony between the Muslims and Christians for decades without any animosity.

He likened the Hijab to the head coverings of the Catholic nuns, explaining that another name the Muslims can refer to that head covering is Hijab.

Imam-Aliagan, who is also a lecturer at the Department of Religions at the Faculty of Arts, University of Ilorin, recalled that it was in 1974 that the state government took control of all missionary schools in the state.

He also recalled that in the past, the government delegated Christians to head Muslim missionary schools and vice versa, adding that such initiatives created an atmosphere of understanding, tolerance and peaceful coexistence.

“The school I attended was an Islamic missionary school; Ansar Islam Primary School, which was headed by a Christian,” according to him.

The cleric noted that the headmaster was so passionate about the school and saw to the development of the school.

He however regretted that the case was not the same now; as missionary schools were only headed by their respective adherents.

Imam-Aliagan observed that this was a wrong approach in modern times and the reason behind lack of understanding the two adherents were facing.

“We are now at an era where it is only Muslim Principal or Headmaster that will head Muslim schools and Christian will head Christian schools,” he lamented.

He urged the two to dialogue and resolve the matter, while advising the state government to take steps to ensure the peace and harmony in the state prevailed.