As the controversy over the same school uniform introduced by Governor Rauf Aregbesola-led administration degenerates, the Osun Baptist Conference, on Thursday, said students of the Baptist High School should continue to wear religious garments to school in protest.

It also directed parents of 92 students invited by the state government to a meeting over the issue of hijab and crisis rocking the school to shun such parley, saying their resolve had the backing of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Osun State chapter.

In a communique signed by the president of the conference, Reverend Paul Oluwole, a copy of which was obtained by the Nigerian Tribune, the body said the conference asked Christian students to continue to wear religious garments to their schools.

“The Baptist community in Osun State and Iwo community is vehemently opposed to the use of hijab in Baptist High School, Iwo.

“No parents and students must be invited to Osogbo under any guise to intimidate the parents and their wards, rather, if there is any information to pass, it should be channeled through the normal channel such as the school authorities or the Parents Teachers Association.

“In view of our observation that the wearing of hijab in Baptist High School appears to have the backing of the state government, we hereby also authorise and mandate all our Christian students to wear their religious garments,” the communique read.

But the state government had, through a statement by the Director, Bureau of Communications and Strategy in the office of the Governor, Mr Semiu Okanlawon, invited the parents of the students of the school to a parley and also constituted a panel of enquiry to investigate the matter.

It will be recalled that crisis erupted in Baptist High School, Iwo, on Monday, when some wore hijab, choir robes and traditional veils to school assembly ground, singing different religious songs according to their respective faiths.

The development disrupted academic activities for several hours, while the crisis took a new turn on Tuesday, as some students stormed the school as masquerades.

Okanlawon, in the statement, claimed that only 92 out of the 2,500 student population in the school were involved in the protest over the wearing of hijab.

According to him, the decision of the government to invite the parents of the students was to find amicable solution to the problem, adding that the panel of inquiry set up by the government would comprise of representatives of the relevant organisations such as the All Nigerian Conference of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS), Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Parents Teachers Association (PTA) and community leaders with the officials of the state Ministry of Education.

•Text courtesy Nigerian Tribune. Photo shows Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola.

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