Another religious crisis may be brewing in Oyo State
as no fewer than 55 Muslim students were on Monday barred from entering the
Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) International School,
Ogbomoso, Oyo State, over the use of hijab.
It was learnt from a source in the school that the
students were on Monday morning turned back by the institution authority for
wearing hijab on top of their uniforms.
The source said: "Hijab Imbroglio: Welcome to
LAUTECH Secondary School, Ogbomoso, Oyo State. The story was dated back to 2011
when the first request was made to the Governing Board of the school to allow
our willing Muslim female students to use hijab as part of their school uniform
in line with Islamic dictate.
"Since 2011, barely eight years ago, several
letters of appeal had been written to the governing council while we wait
endlessly without any concrete positive response to our simple request.
"Our Muslim girls, over the period, have been
using beret instead of Hijab in their own case contrary to the Islamic dictate.
"While our patience overtime as law-abiding
citizens was premised on our belief that the management of the school will do
the needful and give regard to the rule of law and provision of the constitution
guaranteeing fundamental human right of everybody.
"Having waited endlessly since 2011, it was
decided on January 4, 2019, that our willing Muslim female students should
commence the use of hijab as school resumes on January 7, 2019."
But speaking with journalists on the matter, the
Principal of the school, Mr. Ibrahim Animashaun, urged parents and students to
await the decision of the school board of governors.
He said the status quo remains until the board come
out with its decision whether to allow or ban the use of hijab in the school.
He said: "The school board of governors is yet to
approve the use of hijab, and the board is looking at their letter. So we are
yet to communicate them. Until we communicate with them, the status quo remains
until the board approves their request.
"We spoke with the aggrieved parents that their
letter is still with the board. LAUTECH International School board of governors
is looking at their letter."
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