As students of public primary and secondary schools in Osun State resume today after June 12 public holiday, there are strong indications that Christians and Muslims in the state are poised for serious showdown over the use of hijab by female Muslim students in public schools.

The State Muslim Community had, weekend, urged the Osun State chapter of Christian Association of Nigeria not to throw the state into religious crises but to respect the judgment of the State High Court on the issue. The Vice President of Osun State Muslim Community, Alhaji Mustapha Olawuyi said it behoves every responsible individual to abide by judgement of court and appealed to Osun CAN to shun lawlessness in the best interest of justice and peace.

A judge of Osun State High Court, Justice Jide Falola had delivered a judgement in favour of a case instituted by Osun State Muslim Community against the State Government on the right of female Muslim students in public schools in the state to use hijab on their school uniforms.

Osun CAN, however, faulted the judgement and vowed to appeal the matter in the higher court. CAN also threatened that it would direct Christian students across the state to wear church garments to schools to propagate their faith if Osun State government implement the judgement of Justice Falola.

But the Youth Wing of Christian Association of Nigeria, Osun State, YOWICAN-OS, yesterday explained it was not against wearing of hijab in Osun public schools but in Christian faith-based schools as being insinuated but insisted Christians will not go back on wearing of garments to schools beginning from today. The group said the judgment of Justice Jide Falola that legitimises wearing of Hijab in public schools was in direct opposition to the mutual agreement leaders of National Inter-Religious Council, NIREC, Osun State chapter, reached on the issue. (Vanguard)

•Photo shows Osun Governor Rauf Aregbesola.

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