The global head of Ifa priests, otherwise called the Araba Agbaye, Chief Owolabi Aworeni has called on the House of Representatives to halt a bill that sought to institutionalise the use of hijab in the country.
The call against the Hijab bill which already passed second reading came barely 47 hours after the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) issued a similar statement, urging the leadership of the National Assembly to suspend the bill before the lower chamber.
Muslim News findings revealed that the bill, titled Religious Discrimination (Prohibition, Prevention) Bill, 2021 is seeking to provide a mechanism for enforcing certain provisions of the constitution and other international laws that recognize the right of a female to adorn the hijab in both public and private establishments in Nigeria.
The assault and denial of female Muslim rights to use the hijab in public schools especially and establishments (owned by the government) have been on the rise in Nigeria.
The perpetrators, Muslim News learnt, most times, are never brought to book.
But the traditional worshippers and CAN, an umbrella body of Christians body in Nigeria called for the stoppage of the proposed anti-religious discrmination bill, citing different reasons.
The General Secretary of CAN, Joseph Daramola, in a statement, said, in part that the bill is ill-timed and uncalled for, adding, “We wonder what the sponsors of the Bill seek to gain from it other than to compound the security problem and the wearing of hijab in public and Christian schools.
“To what extent does this controversial bill seek to promote peace, order, and good governance? Has dress code become part of the Exclusive Legislative List?,” he asked.
Chief Aworeni, who represents the traditional worshippers, therefore, warned the National Assembly to drop the issue of the use of hijab.
“We are warning that religious intolerance should not be allowed to polarise us as a people. Nigeria as a secular nation should be receptive to all religions and people should be free to practice their faith without any interference,” he added.
