Tinubu, Aregbesola Meet CAN Over Crisis In Osun School
Staff
February 13, 2014
A Former Governor of Lagos State, Bola Tinubu, on Wednesday met with the leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria from the South-West in Osogbo.
The meeting was meant to address the crisis caused by the new education policy of the state Governor, Rauf Aregbesola.
The meeting, which was held behind closed door in the Government House, lasted for three hours.
While Tinubu and Aregbesola led the government’s team, the Chairman of CAN in the South-West, Bishop Magnus Atilade, and CAN chairman in Osun State, Rev. Elisha Ogundiya, led other clergymen to the meeting.
It was gathered that Tinubu, who is one of the national leaders of the All Progressives Congress, appealed to the religious leaders to sheathe their swords, but the leadership of CAN was said to have maintained its stand on the issues.
Tinubu, while briefing journalists after the meeting, said he was in the state to make sure that there was no religious crisis.
He said, “We are in the state because of the concern for the future of our children knowing full well that education is the greatest weapon against poverty.
“We cannot allow the process of educating and developing our children to divide us; we cannot allow that to pervert their minds, we cannot allow that to separate them in a manner that will bring misunderstanding. As a leader, we must be ready to provide that.
“Religious crisis cannot happen in Osun State and we shall not allow those behind it to succeed. Education is essential to us and religion is also very important. We shall therefore ensure that the two are not affected. The concerned people have agreed to give peace a chance.”
The APC leader said the party’s presidential candidate would be selected in a transparent manner, saying it would not cause any rift because the process would be credible.
Tinubu also said the party would win the governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun states.
He insisted that the time had come for a change, saying the APC would ensure the change Nigerians had been yearning for.
“APC’s presidential candidate will be selected through a clear process. You see the way and manner membership registration took place in a clear process, the presidential race will also be like that. All elections will be transparent under a new arrangement.”
The CAN chairman in Osun, in an interview with our correspondent, said the former governor appealed to CAN, adding that dialogue was still ongoing because the matter had yet to be resolved finally.
He said, “We met and he appealed to us, but we have not resolved the matter. We are still maintaining our stand. However, dialogue is still ongoing. We will meet again soon.”
CAN had opposed the use of hijab in schools founded by Christian missionaries.
This had resulted into a crisis at the Baptist High School, Iwo, when pupils started wearing various religious garments to the school to protest the use of hijab.
PUNCH
The meeting, which was held behind closed door in the Government House, lasted for three hours.
While Tinubu and Aregbesola led the government’s team, the Chairman of CAN in the South-West, Bishop Magnus Atilade, and CAN chairman in Osun State, Rev. Elisha Ogundiya, led other clergymen to the meeting.
It was gathered that Tinubu, who is one of the national leaders of the All Progressives Congress, appealed to the religious leaders to sheathe their swords, but the leadership of CAN was said to have maintained its stand on the issues.
Tinubu, while briefing journalists after the meeting, said he was in the state to make sure that there was no religious crisis.
He said, “We are in the state because of the concern for the future of our children knowing full well that education is the greatest weapon against poverty.
“We cannot allow the process of educating and developing our children to divide us; we cannot allow that to pervert their minds, we cannot allow that to separate them in a manner that will bring misunderstanding. As a leader, we must be ready to provide that.
“Religious crisis cannot happen in Osun State and we shall not allow those behind it to succeed. Education is essential to us and religion is also very important. We shall therefore ensure that the two are not affected. The concerned people have agreed to give peace a chance.”
The APC leader said the party’s presidential candidate would be selected in a transparent manner, saying it would not cause any rift because the process would be credible.
Tinubu also said the party would win the governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun states.
He insisted that the time had come for a change, saying the APC would ensure the change Nigerians had been yearning for.
“APC’s presidential candidate will be selected through a clear process. You see the way and manner membership registration took place in a clear process, the presidential race will also be like that. All elections will be transparent under a new arrangement.”
The CAN chairman in Osun, in an interview with our correspondent, said the former governor appealed to CAN, adding that dialogue was still ongoing because the matter had yet to be resolved finally.
He said, “We met and he appealed to us, but we have not resolved the matter. We are still maintaining our stand. However, dialogue is still ongoing. We will meet again soon.”
CAN had opposed the use of hijab in schools founded by Christian missionaries.
This had resulted into a crisis at the Baptist High School, Iwo, when pupils started wearing various religious garments to the school to protest the use of hijab.
PUNCH
