The National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Wednesday said that religion should not mingle with education, stressing that religion and education should be at diverse corner.

Asiwaju Tinubu disclosed this in Osogbo while holding a peace meeting with the leaders of the state chapter of the Christian Association of Nigerian (CAN) following the lingering crisis in Baptist High School, Iwo, Osun State, southwest Nigeria due to the reclassification of schools programme in the state.

He stressed that there should not be any misunderstanding concerning religion,adding that, education is the greatest property for children. His words, “we cannot allow anything to disrupt the education of our children, religion apart, education apart, religion is a personal thing which we should not bring into education”. He however urged the religion leaders most especially the leadership of CAN to cooperate with the government in its bid to transform the education sector in the state.

It could be recalled that the State Governor, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola had on Monday held peace meeting with the religion bodies, students and the parents of the school. Addressing the people on the playing field of the school, Aregbesola said his government has for no time approved nor disapproved the use of head cover for female Muslim students in any of the public schools in the state.

Aregbesola noted that since the case is still pending in court and the court’s position is that the status quo ante be maintained until the case is determined, the government has no power to do contrary to the position of the court. The Governor maintained that his government being a product of rule of law is guided in all its actions in strict adherence to the principles of the rule of law in the state.

According to Aregbesola, “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 in causing religious unrest in our state. “Those prompting chaos and conflagration in our state; those who have well established antecedent of violent behaviour; those sowing seeds 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 averred that government has set up a committee on discipline in public schools and when the report is out government shall begin to enforce discipline in all schools.

Aregbesola pointed out that the future his administration is preparing for students has no place for unruly and undisciplined persons. Rev Bayo Ademuyiwa, who spoke on behalf of the Christians had said, “We are in support of programmes and policies of government on Education since the last three years. We also express our disappointment over the crisis playing out in Baptist High School for sometimes. We want to tell government that we are lovers of peace and we abhor disunity.”

Ademuyiwa maintained that, Christain Association of Nigeria (CAN) dishonoured the use of unconventional dresses in the school, adding that, CAN as a body will not concur with the government on the use of hijab in the school. Alhaji Idris Magaji, who spoke on behalf of Muslim parents, said the three religions have the responsibility to fight against indecent dressing and promote love and unity among all students regardless of their faiths.

“We are a peace loving people. And we are proud of the many innovations in the education sector of the current administration. We must not allow agents of destabilisation to deprive our children the quality education for which the current administration has been working,” Magaji said.

Mr. Ifawole Anifalaje, who also spoke on behalf of the traditional religious worshippers, prayed that peace reigned in the community and that the vision of the present administration for quality education be realized. “We don’t have problem with any faith. What we also want is the progress of our children. We were never part of the plan to make any masquerade to come to Baptist High School. Some other people looking for trouble must have instigated the coming of a masquerade to the school compound,” he said.

Two students of the school: Aremu Olukayode and Bashir Mutiyat who spoke on behalf of the students, thanked the government for the various education projects such as Opon Imo, new schools and furniture and recruitment of new teachers. It was a tumultuous reception for Governor Aregbesola as he arrived at the premises of the Baptist High School, which had been the centre of protests among students over the use of hijab, the Muslim head scarfs for covering female heads.

Aregbesola, who dressed in the uniform of a High School student (brown trousers and a shirt with a school cap) stirred the students as they gathered around him at the school premises.