– A large percentage of Nigerians decide what they do based either on what their religion teaches or what their cultural values uphold
– Nigeria itself is believed to be a multi-religious and multi-cultural nation
– The state of Osun as Governor Rauf Aregbesola calls his state is currently boiling based on what some people have termed ‘Osun state Hijab crisis’
– There are accusations that Governor Aregbesola wants to set the state on fire by making the Hijab compulsory in all public schools across the state, thereby subtlely Islamising Osun
How did Osun state get to this present state of exchange of banters between the leaders of the two major religions, Islam and Christianity? Was there a foretold agreement by the governor of the Southwest state that he will allow female Muslim students to wear their Hijab in the state-owned schools?
Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun state
It seems there are more questions begging for answers than the solutions on ground.
Aregbesola’s mistakes
Governor Rauf Aregbesola is in his second term of overseeing the affairs of the Osun state. The circumstances which brought him as Osun state’s number one citizen in his first term was reported to be shrouded in some sort of allegations of bribing the judge who held his case with former governor, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola at appeal court. However, the focus here is not how Aregbesola emerged, but the brewing crisis which he himself brought upon Osun, by not being sincere from the onset about the issue of the Hijab, which is very important in the dress code of female Muslims.
Some people have lampooned the governor based on his religiosity, which they say is tainted with so much controversies. This is because he is a Muslim, but seems to engage in actions, which are contrary to what Islam teaches.
It is the same ‘Ogbeni,’ as the governor is fondly called, who in one way or the other propagates traditional religions, in which he has no business of doing so.
Being a Muslim, he ought to know that his religion should not be mixed with another religion, in order for people not to get confused, as to where his interest lies. It is the same Aregbesola, who came up with the idea of marking out a day for Traditionalists in Osun state, as a public holiday. This has never happened before in Nigeria. What many Nigerians know is that, it is either a religious holiday is declared for Christian festivities or for Muslims to celebrate a particular festival.
No one is berating the governor of Osun for recognising the fact that some citizens of Osun are not Muslims or Christians, but his actions have led to bad blood among followers of the different religions.
Being in a democratic system of government, Aregbesola should have called a meeting of the major stakeholders of both religions and explain to them, the reasons for the introduction of Hijab from day one if he really wanted to carry everyone along.
Using Hijab in a democratic set up
Muslims are known to use the Glorious Qur’an and Hadeeth, as their two major references, when they talk about any issue. Therefore, quoting chapter 33 verse 59 of the Qur’an to know how the Hijab came about will be handy here.
It reads: “O Prophet Muhammad, tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers (that is the Muslims), to bring down over themselves, part of their outer garments. That is more suitable; that they will be known and not be abused. And ever is Allah Forgiving and Merciful.”
Women in Hijab
The message in the part of the Book of the Muslims quoted is on why the female Muslims should be allowed to use Hijab. As long as they can deal with it, nobody should disturb them. Also, the verse explains why females in Hijab are less exposed to evils like rape, assault or molestation, when they find themselves in a place where there are different categories of men.
There have been numerous findings, both locally and internationally that, women who expose their body parts are subject to abuse, ridicule, sexual assault and their likes.
There was a time in India where men who rape, were reportedly to have said the way some of their female victims dress pushes them to rape them. This is not just in India, but in other societies, because the first thing that attracts a man to a woman is her appearance.
According to Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, “all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.”
Based on the content of Human Rights above, why are people not allowed to live the way they feel regardless of whatever they practise.
On Tuesday, June 15, it was reported that Pastor Dotun Ajileye commented on the crisis in Osun state following the court’s ruling on Hijab wearing in public schools, saying the issue may degenerate to a terrible situation if religious leaders do not dialogue over it.
The public sometimes cry wolf where there is none
How on earth will the use of Hijab by a particular set of individuals threaten another set of people? Although, no one can force anybody to do what he does not want to do, people should be respected to do what their heart directs them to do sometimes. This invariably means a person could do what he thinks will make him happier, as long as it is not based on sentiments or prejudicial judgement or disrupt the tranquility in the society.
It is an open secret that the Hijab is part of the dress code of the female Muslims.
The general public likewise should not make a mountain out of a molehill. It seems this is what some advocates of societal chaos want in Osun state. They are stirring the hornet’s bee unnecessarily.
The use of Hijab is not a pointer to the fact that Osun state is being turned into a mono-religious state. This is far from the gospel truth. Either the state government enforces the use of Hijab or not, people should know female Muslims will always put on their Hijab.
There are so many organisations owned by government and private agencies, where female Muslim employees use their Hijab. This is conspicuous among female Muslim doctors, nurses, teachers, bankers and various professions, and co-employees, who are non-Muslims, have not come out to the public to criticise the Hijab or call for its ban because the government owns where they work.
Even in the US, which practises the most advanced democracy in the world, there are different schools where Hijab is allowed. In the same US, there are some Muslim female military personnel and others who use their Hijab undisturbed.
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