A Christian Interest watchdog, the Ecumenical Youth Association (EYA) has condemned the Federal Government of Nigeria and the Government of Kwara State, for donating one million dollars to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Humanitarian Trust Fund for Afghanistan.
The donation reflects Governor Abdulrazak’s policy of Talibalisation of education in Kwarra State by insisting on Hijab wearing in Missionary Schools.
However, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) commended the Nigerian and Kwarra State Government for donating one million dollars to the Humanitarian Trust Fund for Afghanistan.
It was learnt that the Nigerian Government’s donation was to bolster OIC’s efforts at easing the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan. Nevertheless, charity they say, begins at home. President Buhari made the donation at such a critical period that Nigeria is in dare need of money to address the plethora of issues bedeviling the educational sector.
For example, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) are on strike, and what does the government need to address ASUU matter? Money. Nigeria healthcare and educational system is near total collapse, and what does it need to address it? Funds. People are being killed, kidnapped, homes destroyed everyday and the security situation is not getting any better, what about the sorry story of the internally displaced person’s (IDP) camps? Of course money is needed to address these issues.
A pastor was killed in Kano State, his house and the church building was burnt down. Christians are being killed and churches destroyed in Taraba, Gombe, Adamawa, Borno, Yobe, Kano, Benue, plateau, and Kaduna States, but Mr. President has not thought it sympathetic and wise to make donations to ameliorate the burden placed on them by government’s inability to secure their lives and properties.
Therefore, It’s a clear misplacement of priority In all sense of the action of the President to donate one million dollars to an Islamic organisation at the expense of the pressing needs in the country.
We urge Mr. President to also donate same to Christian families and churches to address their humanitarian crisis (loss of life of their loved once and destruction of homes and churches) caused by the activities of Boko Haram, ISWAP and Bandits.
The group also condemned the statement of Governor Abdulrahaman Abdulrazak of Kwara state, insisting that Muslim students can wear Hijab in government grant-aided missionary schools.
You can not compel missionary schools to accept hijab because, you are giving them grants. Can the governor compel grant-aided Muslim schools to conduct morning assembly for Christian students in Muslim schools?
We urge missionary schools in Kwarra State not to succumb or be subjugated by the Taliban orientated educational policy of Governor Abdulrazak, but instead to explore ways to solicit for grants from International organizations.
Therefore, we advice Governor Abdulrahaman Abdulrazak to adopt the Oyo State Strategic Policy module that was used to address similar situation in Oyo State.
Meanwhile, The Ecumenical Youth Association (EYA) strongly condemns and calls for the retraction of the Discriminating Policy agaisnt young, unmarried and older Christians introduced by Mr. Samuel Haruna, the Executive Secretary of the Bauchi State Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board for no good and justified reasons.
Mr. Haruna must realised that he was appointed to encourage more Christaians in Bauchi State to participate in the spiritual exercise or visits to the Holy Land and not to deny them the opportunity based on age or maritial status. The policy is an absurdity, unchristian like and down right descriminary and should therefore be withdrawn forthwith.
Furher, we urge the Bauchi State Christian Pilgrims welfare board executive Secretary to initiate ways of raising funds for the board and revert to the status quo so as not to compel us to call for the sack of Mr Samuel Haruna.
