The Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, has said that the decision to allow every Muslim schoolgirl who so wishes to wear hijab in public schools was taken in good faith.
He made this known in a state broadcast yesterday, stressing that he would take care of the interests of all Kwarans according to the oath he was sworn in to as the governor.
TheFact Nigeria gathered that the affected schools closed by the government over the Hijab controversy were C&S College Sabo Oke, St. Anthony College, Offa Road, ECWA School, Oja Iya, Surulere Baptist Secondary School, Bishop Smith Secondary School, Agba Dam, CAC Secondary School Asa Dam, St. Barnabas Secondary School Sabo Oke, St. John School Maraba, St. Williams Secondary School Taiwo Isale and St. James Secondary School Maraba, all in Ilorin, the state capital.
He asked parents to tell their children to stay away from trouble, warning that, “any attempt to take advantage of the situation to foment trouble will be met with maximum punishment prescribed by the law.”
He also commended the maturity and professionalism with which the state security agencies handled the situation which prevented loss of life.
Going down memory lane, he said “On 26th February, the administration announced an official policy allowing any willing Muslim schoolgirl to wear the hijab in public schools.
“That announcement followed several days of consultations, meetings, brainstorming, and dispassionate weighing of policy options. We took that decision in good faith and in the overall interest of all.
“I swore to an oath to protect every Kwaran. This oath includes looking at the bigger picture and doing everything to prevent a crisis before it occurs”.
In a bid to ease the ongoing tension in the state, he promised to constitute an interfaith committee to further build confidence among the religious leaders.
