Baptist president differs with Kwara gov on hijab for students

President of, Nigerian Baptist Convention, Rev. Israel Akanji, has disagreed with Governor Abdurahaman Abdulrasaq of Kwara State on the wearing of hijab in Baptist schools in the state.

The cleric, in a statement yesterday, described the governor’s decision to allow the wearing of the Islamic veil as a big embarrassment to the church, as the issue led to the closure of the Christian mission school in the first place.

According to him, to complicate the unjustified response of the Kwara government to their prayers to allow the school operate as it had peacefully done in the last 50 years, the governor alluded to being owner of the school.

He urged governments to allow Baptist High School, Ijagbo, to continue its educational provision without the use of hijab, while calling for better security provision for all places of worship in the country.

“We also have noted that the Governor Abdulrasaq, who has ordered the reopening of the Baptist High School, Ijagbo, has instructed that those who wish to, may put on their hijab in the school.

“This is a big embarrassment to us, as the hijab issue was the bone of contention, which led to the closure of our Christian mission school in the first place.”

Akanji also kicked against the carnage in Owo, describing the incident as the height of the desecration of a place of worship and disdain for God. He said: “The world is still ruminating and sobbing over the kidnap of passengers of the Abuja-Kaduna train, the mob killing of Deborah Samuel in Sokoto – both in the North West, and the recent kidnap (though released after payment of huge ransom) of the Prelate of the Methodist Church of Nigeria, Archbishop Chukwuemeka Uche, in the South East.”

another disaster struck in Owo in the South West, to crown the chains of spontaneous dastardly acts in our dear country.