Muslims protest return of 8 schools to missionary in Edo

Controversies have emerged as Muslim groups in Edo State protest the plan of the state governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, to hand over eight public schools in the state to the Catholic missionary.

The groups composed of Edo Muslims for Equity and Good Governance (EMEGG) and Nigeria Council of Islamic Affairs, Edo State Council, called on the governor to rescind his decision, as the move is not in the interest of the Muslim students and teachers in those schools.

Recall that Okpebholo on Monday approved the return of eight public schools to the Catholic missionary in the state.

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The governor, in a statement by his spokesperson, Fred Itua, said the development followed a meeting between the governor and the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Auchi, Gabriel G. Dunia.

He listed the affected schools to include Our Lady of Fatima College, Auchi; St. Angela’s Grammar School, Uzairue; St. John Grammar School, Fugar; St. Peter’s Grammar School, Agenebode; St. James’s Grammar School, Afuze; St. Joseph College, Otuo; St. Mary’s Grammar School, Eme-Ora; and St. Aloysius Gonzaga Grammar School, Ososo.

He clarified that any of the affected schools currently undergoing renovation by the state government would remain under its supervision until their completion.

Bishop Dunia had noted that despite persistent appeals to previous administrations, the state government had not positively responded to the Church’s requests for the return of their institutions until now.

Bishop Dunia explained that the Catholic mission’s role is not only in the intellectual formation of children but also in fostering “ideal moral character, which constitute the bedrock of good society.”

Reacting to the development, the Edo Muslims for Equity and Good Governance urged the government to tread with caution and engage in broad-based consultations involving all religious and community stakeholders before making such far-reaching decisions.

The group in a statement by its General Coordinator Sirajudeen Muhammad and Secretary Abdullah Umar, said, “While we acknowledge that some of these schools may have been initiated by missionaries, it is imperative to point out that many of the lands upon which these institutions were built were generously donated by host communities, some of which are predominantly Muslims,” the group said.

It noted that since the takeover of these schools by the government, they have been maintained and developed with public funds derived from taxes paid by all citizens of the state, Muslims and non-Muslims alike.

The group called on the government to ensure that the interests of all citizens irrespective of faith are adequately safeguarded.

Also speaking, the Edo State Chairman, Nigeria Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Abdulaziz Ibginidu, said the development is not in the interest of Muslims.

While calling for caution, he noted that the interest of the Muslims students and teachers in those schools ought to have been considered before taking such a decision.

Igbinidu said they are disturbed with the handing over of the schools to the Church after the government had spent so much money to rebuild them.

The Chairman Edo North Council of Ulama, Zakariyah Musa, described the handing over of the schools to the missionaries as unacceptable to the Muslims.

He noted that Muslims children are in those schools, lamenting that the governor, who is for all irrespective of their faith, didn’t consider the interest of the Muslims in taking such a decision.

Musa said the council and other Muslims stakeholders would have a meeting with the governor soon to address the issue, asking “What would be the fate of Muslim students and teachers in those schools?”

On his part, Imam Harun Umar of Edo South Council of Ulama, emphasized that such a move has wider implications, hence the need for consultation and engagement.

He said though the governor may have thought such a move would boost academic standard and discipline of the children “but looking at the wider implications, it is rational to maintain the status quo,” saying there are better ways of achieving education and discipline rather than returning the schools to missionaries.

“I think there is a need for engagement and wider consultations. The governor has set up a five-man implementation committee, I hope they will engage in consultations and dialogue with the people.”

According to him,the governor didn’t think of the likely implications of his action before taking the decision, noting “it will not only affect the Muslims but other Christians who are not Catholics.”

He said he believes that if the governor is engaged on this, he would know the wider implication of his decision, thereby  calling on the governor to halt the process and do wider consultations before releasing the schools to the Catholic because it would be counter productive.

The Vice Chairman of Edo Central Council of Ulama, Sado Mutairu Ibhafidon, said Muslims in the area were disappointed with the pronouncement because it was not part of the governor’s agenda and campaign promises.

He said “Muslims are not happy with the development and we hope it would not happen because the former governor also made such a pronouncement but it didn’t see the light of the day.

“We’re not going to relent, we’ll keep pushing and dialoguing with the governor to let him know the implications. We know how missionaries operate,” he said.

Ibhafidon called on the governor to dialogue with the people because his government is for all religions, including Islam.

“I am from his local government and a member of his party. I was beaten and our source of livelihood was affected for supporting him. He can’t just hand over public schools meant for people of all religions to the Catholic.”

He however called on the Muslims, especially those working with the governor, to let him know the wider implication of such a move.

He noted that taking such a decision may connote that the governor is pushing the Muslims out of Edo State because they are a minority.