Oyedepo advises Kwara Muslims to send their kids to schools where the hijab is allowed

WINNERS Chapel founder Bishop David Oyedepo has waded into the ongoing debate about hijab wearing in Kwara State advising Muslim parents to withdraw their children from Christian schools if they are not happy with the guidelines they operate under.

Over the last week, there has been an almighty row in Kwara State as missionary schools have said that the hijab is not part of their uniform and they will not permit them to be worn by students. Some Islamic groups have, however, insisted that Muslim girls should be allowed to wear the hijab to school as it is a key feature of their religion.

Seeking to diffuse the tension, Bishop Oyedepo, has advised Muslims to look for hijab -wearing schools their children can attend and leave the missionary schools for their various owners. So far, 10 schools have been shut down by the Kwara State government over the crisis.

Last week, there were skirmishes at the Baptist Secondary School, Surulere and Cherubim and Seraphim College, Sabo-Oke in Ilorin where Christians and Muslims clashed. Governor Abdulraham Abdulrazaq had set up a committee to look into the controversy and later announced that all public schools should respect the rights of Muslim students to wear the hijab head covering, if they choose to.

However, this move has not gone down well with Christian schools and more clashes are expected as the controversy refuses to go away. Governor Abdulrazaq said his government took the decision allowing the use of hijab in public schools in good faith and urged adherents of both religious faiths to cooperate with his government.

Bishop Oyedepo said: “It is such a nasty development in Kwara State where Muslims are asking their students in our schools to wear hijab, and the church said no. I have never seen a place in my life where a tenant will be decreeing for the landlord. You know the reason why? We have never shown the world the other side of God.

“God is not a toy. Our God is a consuming fire, let us show them the consuming fire of God, they need to know. Leave the schools for the owners, go to your schools, is there any fight? Stop putting fingers in the eyes of others.

“The church is a time-bomb when God turns his back on anybody or any system, that system is grounded. My advice is, leave the schools for the owners, find your schools where men and women can wear hijab there and stop putting your fingers in the eyes of others when they are not blind.”