30th November,
2023
PRESS RELEASE:
STOP LURING MUSLIM
STUDENTS TO CHURCH PROGRAMMES: LAGOS MURIC TELLS LASG
The Lagos State
Chapter of the Muslim Rights Concern
(MURIC), has called on the education authorities in Lagos State to desist
from luring innocent and unsuspecting Muslim Students across the six
educational districts of the State to the annual Christian programme of the
founder of the Christ Embassy, Pastor Chris Oyakhilome, under the guise of fake
humanitarian programmes.
In a press statement
released on Thursday, 30th November, 2023 by the Chairman of MURIC in Lagos
State, Dr Busari Muhammad Jamiu Ademola, the Islamic human rights group
bemoaned the attitude of the officers of the ministry of education in luring
students to the program through official invitation.
The Statement reads:
"We are deeply
worried by the incessant luring of innocent Muslim Students to church
programmes, particularly that of Pastor Chris Oyakhilome. The programme as
reliably investigated is sponsored by the cleric who, in conjunction with the
officials of the Lagos State ministry of education, arranged the transportation
of students to the venue. The students irrespective of their faiths are ferried
to Christian programmes and deceived with gifts.
"This deceitful
event has been on for more than five years. This year's program which is slated
for December 3, 2023 is coined as 'Invitation to Host Students in
Commemoration of Birthday of their Principal, Pastor Chris Oyakhilome'
through a school named Teens Voice Academy Lagos.
"This is
unbelievable and unspeakable of ministry officials directing principals of
public schools in the six districts to arrange students for such an event.
Where is the correlation? On whose directives is this happening? Is Pastor
Oyakhilome now the owner of Lagos State public schools? LASG has sold out Lagos
to Oyakhilome.
"Exempli
gratia, a memo signed and distributed by one Mrs Oyegbile, K.O on behalf of
TG/PS of District I, Agege, was circulated
this week to school principals. According to the memo, four venues (Sango
Senior, Keke Senior, Oba Sanni Komolafe Youth center and Palmtime Resorts) have
been designated as meeting points for students to converge en route the
venue. The circular also announced Mr Oladiti Oladele Olaitan as the
programme coordinator whose contact (telephone number included) could be
reached for any assistance.
"It is then
crystal clear that the organizers and certain elements in the ministry, via
educational districts are behind this programme to adulterate the faith
of innocent Muslim children with Christian ideologies.
"To this end, MURIC
strongly condemns the involvement of state paraphernalia in a pastor's birthday
celebration. It is hero-worshiping taken too far.
“LASG has no right whatsoever to use students of public schools
for a private individual's birthday program. While we object to using any student,
whether Muslim or Christian for Oyakhilome's party, we have serious objection
to using a single Muslim student for same.
“The parents entrusted their children to LASG mainly for academic
purpose, taking them out on evangelical jamboree is definitely not part of the
deal. It is therefore gross abuse of trust to divert students' attention to the
birthday party of a pastor.
“School children can attend the governor's function or that of
the president of Nigeria because those are government officials. The pastor is
also free to organize students of private schools to attend his birthday. We
must draw a line of demarcation between clerics and public officers.
It is taking the joke
too far if pastors and Imams are elevated to the level of governors and heads
of state by making students of public schools to attend their birthdays. It is
another form of slavery.
MURIC is therefore calling on the Lagos State Government, the State Ministry of
Education and all Tutor Generals throughout the State to ensure that no single
student of Lagos public schools is taken to Oyakhilome's birthday
program.
However, even if we overlook the involvement of Christian
children, taking Muslim children to a private function of a Christian pastor
contravenes Section 38, Sub- section 2 of Nigeria 1999 Nigeria Constitution as
amended which states that 'No person attending any place of education shall be
required to receive religious instruction or to take part in or attend any
religious ceremony or observance if such instruction, ceremony or observance
relates to a religion other than his own, or religion not approved by his
parent or guardian'.
"We advise the concerned authorities to desist from this unconstitutional
acts, and stop luring Muslim children to Christian programmes. The Muslim
teachers also are not to be coerced by school principals and assigned as
supervisors to accompany students to church programmes.
"Lastly, we
remind our leaders that religion is not by cohesion, our children must be
spared of this neo-colonial practice. We are all Nigerians, live peacefully and
let live!!!
#DontLureOurChildrenToChurch
#EducateDontEvangelise
Dr. Busari Muhammad
Jamiu Ademola.
Chairman,
Muslim Rights Concern
(MURIC)
Lagos
Chapter.
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