Security chiefs and representatives of Governor Rauf Aregbesola, on Thursday held a peace parley
with some Christian leaders over the lingering crisis caused by the court judgement allowing the use
of hijab in public schools in Osun State.
Sources at the meeting told our correspondent that Aregbesola initiated the peace parley having
realised that the threat issued to the Christian Association of Nigeria would not work.
Some of the security chiefs, who attended the meeting are: Commissioner of Police,
Mr. Femi Olanipekun; Director of Department of State Services, Mr. Ike Maduegbuna
and the Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Mr. Ayodele Olusola.
Some former commissioners were also said to be in attendance at the meeting held at the
DSS Office in Osogbo. The former commissioners are: former Commissioner for Information,
Mr. Sunday Akere and former Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Wale Afolabi among others.
The source said, “The police commissioner, the director of DSS, NSCDC boss and some
government representatives were at the meeting.
“The meeting was basically to appeal to the Christian leaders to stop instigating Christian students.
The state government and security agencies are worried at the dimension the issue is taking.
“They appealed to them and I believe, there will be a change. They saw reasons with us and also
said they were not out to disturb the peace of the state but you know that religious issues are very
sensitive.”
He said that those, who came from the Baptist denomination wanted to storm out of the meeting but
were persuaded.
The source said the Baptist leaders said they were not told that they were coming to attend a meeting
but that they were summoned by the officials of the DSS.
One of the former commissioners, Akere, when contacted on the telephone confirmed the meeting.
He said there was a meeting between government officials and security chiefs on one side and
Christian leaders on another side.
“We appealed to them and they assured us that there would be no crisis. The state belongs to
Christians and Muslims and we must not allow the peace we are enjoying to be shattered.”
Akere said those who lost in a similar case in Lagos State did not resort to self help but went ahead
and appealed.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs and Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria
have expressed support for Muslims in Osun State to continue to wear hijab.
The Secretary General of the NSCIA, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, said this in a statement made available to journalists in Osogbo on Thursday.
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