NIGERIA (Osun)--Following the unrest witnessed at the Baptist High School in Iwo last week, Osun State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has paid a visit to the school where he held a peace meeting between the Muslim and Christian Communities in the town.

The Governor disclosed that his administration has not approved the use of hijab in any school within the state, adding that it was the court’s position that the status quo ante be maintained until the case was determined.

According to the governor, “we are a product of the rule of law and this has guided all our actions. As we have said in the past, we have not approved the use of hijab in any school. Let me repeat this again for the hearing of mischief-makers who have been working tirelessly to bring religious war to our state.

“Those prompting chaos and conflagration in our state; those who have well established antecedent of violent behaviour; those sowing the seed of discord in our schools and community and inciting one religion against another, as we have said in the past, government did not at any time approve the use of hijab in any school, before the matter went to court. It is the court’s position that the status quo ante be maintained until the case is determined.”

He pointed out that government had set up a committee on discipline in public schools and when the report is released, government would enforce discipline in all schools.
His words: “Yoruba people have a tradition of accommodation and inclusion; that is why our families are interwoven around all religions.

“Some people, goaded from hell, however, are working to break our bond of unity by beating the drum of religious war. They will fail and only they and their families will dance to that evil beat.”

Earlier, the Deputy Governor of the State, Iyaafin Grace Titilayo-Tomori, who also doubled as the Commissioner for Education urged every warring party to sheathe their swords and embrace peace and harmony.

“Peace must be a permanent feature not only in our schools but every facets of the state. So, where there is pocket of disturbances, government will respond swiftly in restoring peace and order. This is what has been demonstrated at the peace meeting held at Baptist High school premises.”

Earlier, representatives of the three religions, Christianity, Islam and traditionalists, lamented that things that were ordinarily unconnected with learning and knowledge had now been constituting impediments to students’ progress in their studies.

According to them, they are not in support of the unconventional ways students have been dressing to school.