13th July, 2025
PRESS RELEASE
EDE SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL MOSQUE PROJECT: CALL DR DEJI ADELEKE,
7TH DAY ADVENTIST EDE TO ORDER NOW
The Muslim Rights Concern
(MURIC), Osun State Chapter, has accused the Seventh Day Adventist Church, Ede,
of forcefully stopping the construction of a mosque inside Ede Senior High
School, Ede, Osun State.
The human rights group warned
that stoppage of mosque construction anywhere in Nigeria is an infringement on Allah-given
fundamental human rights of Muslims and an undisguised invitation to religious
crisis.
The warning was contained
in a statement issued on Sunday, 13th July, 2025 by the chairman of
MURIC in Osun State, Dr. Abdul Razaq Bolawaye Uthman.
He said further:
“Our attention has been
drawn to an ugly incident which occurred in Ede, Osun State which is capable of
breaching security. The construction work of a mosque was forcefully and
illegally stopped at Ede Senior High School, Ede, Osun State by members of the Seventh
Day Adventist Church led by one Mr. Osundina.
“Mr Osundina, a former
Principal of the school, led a group of people to the site on Friday 12th
July, 2025 in collaboration with the Seventh Day Adventist Church members. It
was also alleged that Dr Deji Adeleke’s personal call to the group sealed the
action.
“Osun State Chapter of MURIC
strongly condemns this act. It is illegal for any private individual or group
of persons to stop another group’s construction work without official government
document backing their action. It also amounts to religious bigotry for one
religious group to stop the construction of a place of worship of another group.
“Information reaching our desk shows that necessary
permission for the new construction was obtained from the Ministry of
Education, Osun State, via letter ref P.PRY/390T/58 of 11th June,
2025 before the project was started. The action taken, in our estimation, was
informed by religious fanaticism and it is capable of causing religious crisis
of immense proportion.
“The Seventh Day Adventist, Ede, should note that Ede
Senior High School is a government/community school not owned by the church. The
claim that they were the former owners who can dictate to the school
authorities is baseless.
“Neither does the claim that government took part of its
land hold any water because the community actually owned the land ab initio and
those who built school on it allegedly obtained it pro bono.
“Going by the religious disharmony experienced in the
socio-political enclave during the immediate past administration in the state,
Osun State cannot afford to boil again on the auspices of religion. The action allegedly
taken by Dr Adeleke and his cohorts reminds us of the old constant religious
disharmony in the state by certain agents provocateur.
“This assertion is premised on the fact that Ede Senior High School,
Ede, the venue of the crisis, is one of the schools taken over by the
Government from the community and this brought about its name, Ede Senior High
School. As a public school which attracts students from diverse religious
backgrounds, the fundamental human rights of students should not be violated.
“Section 38(i) of the Constitution lays emphasis on freedom of
religion. Therefore the construction of mosques should not be disturbed. In
addition, 38(ii) prohibits ‘Teaching and learning of religions different from
that of parents of students’. Building of mosques in schools of this nature
serves the purpose.
“Dr Deji Adeleke might be using the state government’s fiat to stop
the mosque construction thereby causing religious disharmony. But he should be
reminded that this is not Adeleke University, Ede where all students are forced
to attend the chapel irrespective of their religious backgrounds.
“The Muslim Council of Ede and other peace-loving
stakeholders are implored to wade into the matter urgently. Osun State is known
for religious harmony and mutual tolerance but allowing Dr Adeleke and his
cohorts to bulldoze their way through on this matter might ignite a religious
unrest in Ede in particular and Osun state in general.
“MURIC enjoins the peace-loving Muslims of Ede to be law-abiding
while necessary machineries are set in motion to settle the matter. MURIC also
calls on necessary authorities in the State and the Federal levels to
strengthen peaceful co-existence in Ede in particular and Osun State generally
by allowing the continuity of Ede Senior High School mosque project.
Dr. Razaq Bolawaye
Uthman,
Chairman,
Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)
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