MSSN counters Soyinka's rejection of faith-based uniforms
Sodiq Oyeleke
The Muslim Students' Society of Nigeria, Lagos State Area Unit (MSSN Lagos) has faulted the statement made by Prof. Wole Soyinka that faith-based uniform be disallowed in schools.
The students in a press statement by its President (Amir), Mallam Saheed Ashafa, lamented that a person of Soyinka's calibre could make an un-informed statement on education and human right.
According to the group, Soyinka erred by failing to recognise that the current uniform worn by students in schools was already faith-based.
It said, "It should be noted that the statement by Soyinka is one sided and a calculated attack on the agitation for equality through request for the wearing of Hijab on school uniform. It should be clearly stated that the current school uniform in all government schools is already Christian - School uniform with beret for females and short for males as against Hijab and trousers for Muslims.
"It is obvious that Muslims are the only one denied our religious right. Or is Soyinka trying to say that students should begin to wear their indigenous outfit, meaning Yoruba students or students studying in Yorubaland will begin to wear Iro, buba and gele or Agbada and Sokoto with fila as against the faith-based uniform currently being worn? It's high time equality is granted instead of beating about the bush."
The group warned Governors of States already respecting religious differences not fall for ill-advises that were capable of disrupting the existing peace and could cause confusion.
MSSN Lagos added that it was more interested in the co-operation and peaceful co-existence, stating that would be fast tracked by respecting religious differences and peculiarities.
It further clarified that it was not saying students of other religion should be deprived of their currently enjoyed rights, but that Muslim students should also be granted theirs.
MSSN Lagos added, "It is obvious that such a comment from people like Soyinka is part of what some state governments and principals in Lagos State are hiding under to give room for the flogging, molestation and harassment of students for dressing modestly and following the dictate of morality, despite the fact that freedom of religion is firmly entrenched in international laws and the constitutions of countries around the world, including the Nigerian Constitution.
"Of course, Soyinka won't deny to be aware of the position of the United Nations Human Rights Committee, which emphasised that freedom (of religion) encompasses the right to wear religiously distinctive clothing or head coverings before making such comment."
The students-based group also condemned what it described as the "faithless campaign" of Soyinka, saying it would increase social vices in the society.
"It is high time we realised that certain ideologies can only operate as an illusion. They are philosophical and not ideal for societal growth. Such is the the faithless campaign and school of thought of Soyinka. The outcome of such if preached among students will be cultism, thuggery, kidnapping, robbery and raping among others," it noted.
It would be recalled that Wole Soyinka reportedly frowned on the situation where pupils wear uniforms depicting their religious affiliations to schools across the country.
He said this during the inauguration of a N750m school built by the Osun State Government in Ejigbo. The school was named after him.
Written by NEWSTRAWL ONLINE UPDATE
Sodiq Oyeleke is a Media, Human Resources, Project Management and Public Relations Practitioner
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