The Muslim Media Watch Group of Nigeria has condemned in strong terms the statement credited to Bishop David Oyedepo on use of hijab by Muslim students of the Landmark University Omu-Aran, Kwara State.
According to a highly circulated viral video, Oyedepo called on Muslim Parents and Guardians to withdraw their female children if they insisted on use of hijab.
In a Press Statement issued today, the Group described the ban of use of hijab at the Landmark University Omu-Aran as ‘a tip of an icebag’ on the ‘denial of religious freedom’ prevailing in the University; pointing out that Muslims are not employed in the Institution, and by mistake if they recruited a Muslim, he must not be found to be observing the 5-times regular prayers or fasting on the holy month of Ramadan.
In a Press Statement on behalf of the Group and signed by its National Missioner Sheikh Abu Sheriff, the Group condemned Bishop David Oyedepo for flagrantly violating the fundamental human right of muslim students and staff of the Institution as guaranteed in Section 38 of the Nigerian Constitution.
MMWG maintained that as a Bishop, Oyedepo supposed to be well-learned to know that disallowing Muslim students the right of using hijab as violation of freedom of their religious belief and worship.
The statement said further that ‘it is not only irritating but disgusting’ to ask Parents to withdraw their children because you are denying them their fundamental human right.
The Media Group stated further that ‘ no Institution discriminating against students based on religion, tribe or cultural differences should retain National University Commission’s [NUC] approval to continue to operate… The constitutional provision in the Nigerian Constitution the Group said allow freedom of religion, worship, conscience and freedom to manifest one’s religious belief; pointing out that any other law operating anywhere in this Country that runs counter to the constitutional provision is null and void!
The Muslim Media Watch Group of Nigeria [MMWG] described the viral video in which Bishop Oyedepo flagrantly denied Muslim students rights of Islamic dressing as highly condemnable and incredible as it depicts religious fanaticism and intolerance of the Bishop which Group said has been well known in Kwara State.
The Media Group enjoined Bishop Oyedepo to come-off educational commercialisation and impunity, rather he should embrace true patriotism and religious tolerance.
The Group also called on Regulators in field of education in Nigeria the Federal Ministry of Education, NUC, NBTE and all others to checkmate all violators of fundamental human rights in all manners in our schools regardless of their Proprietors so as to bring an end to all sorts of impunities that features in our educational system.
The Muslim Media Watch Group of Nigeria concluded by calling on all Muslim Parents and Guardians to learn serious lesson from this scenario and be concerned about where they enrol their children and wards for learning; adding that those that lack respect for freedom of worship, exhibit religious intolerance and lack of true patriotism should not only be ignored but blacklisted and published for all Muslims in Nigeria not to enrol their children there as they be forced to partipate in church services which could be at variance with religious belief – Islam.
The Group maintained that other Universities in the South-West alledged to be practicing same discrimination like Adeleke University Ede Osun State and Afe Babalola University Ado-Ekiti should desist from doing so or face the wrath of Muslims all over Nigeria.
