Bishop Smith: Avert religious crisis in Kwara, Muslim group appeals to Gov Abdulrazaq 

By Mumini AbdulKareem

The Muslim Media Watch Group of Nigeria (MMWG) has appealed to Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq to avert impending religions crisis in Kwara by ensuring non perpetration of crimes under the guise of mission schools.
The group in a press conference by its National Coordinator, Alhaji Abdullahi Ibrahim on Friday in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital further pleaded with the Governor to ensure religious fanaticism, crisis and volition of fundamental human right of staff and students of any school are not allowed to take place in as guaranteed by the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
MMWG was reacting to the alleged beating of an Imam, Abdullahi Jibril Yakubu, of Bishop Smith Memorial College (BSMC) Ilorin penultimate Friday by the school principal, Christian staff and some “well known” leaders of Kwara State chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) who also joined in the alleged attack describing it as barbaric, inhuman and irresponsible acts of hooliganism and terror.
Citing the judgment of an Ilorin high court of May, 17, 2017 which dismissed the request of return of schools and granted government the power to retain control, the group accused “some Christians fanatics and extremists who parade themselves as leaders of acting contrary to the constitutional provision which is also contained in the National Policy on Education.
It demanded the arrest of one Mr Timothy Oyewole, a Director in the Ministry of Education who allegedly supervised the beating, molestation and tearing of the dress of the Imam during the incident and equally called for the arrest of the school principal who reportedly allowed “intruders” to have engaged in acts that could have led to a religious crisis.
It said Bible Knowledge and Christian devotions are taught and held in Muslims mission schools across the state. MMWG further condemned the action of the Northern Christians Elders Forum for “fanning embers of discord, disunity and hatred in Nigeria in its recent petition to the British Parliament Group in UK over alleged bias against Christians on appointment describing the act as irreligious, sacrilegious and attempt to spread falsehood to get underserved sympathy.
But reacting to the allegation, the Kwara State CAN in a statement signed by its chairmen, Prof Timothy Opoola debunked the allegation and alleged that “since when the government waded into the matter with discussions ongoing, Muslims have been going on air inciting the populace.
He said the Anglican Communion “which is the proprietor of Bishop Smith went there to ascertain what actually transpired and alleged that the Imam was taking pictures of the Anglican priests praying on the school’s open field and was challenged and his phone seized.
“He was later invited by the Anglican Bishop, his phone handed to him, dialogued with him, they shook hands and embraced each other.
It called on the government to use machinery by putting all sentiment apart to ensure equity and fair play on the issue and threatened the Christians will consider taking a drastic action on the issue