The Federation of Muslim Women’s Associations in Nigeria, FOMWAN Oyo State chapter has warned Christian Missionaries and the entire Christian Community in the State to avoid religious activities or programmes capable of ruining the peace and peaceful coexistence being enjoyed in every nook and cranny of the State.
The Association made the appeal while reacting to the visit of some foreign missionaries led by one Evangelist Daniel Kolenda to public secondary schools in the State ahead of their planned Ibadan crusade.
The team was in Yejide Girls Grammar School, Sasa Community High School, Gbekuba Community School, St’ Anne’s School Molete, Methodists Grammar School, Bodija among others.
A statement by the Oyo State Amirah of FOMWAN, Alhaja (Dr) Bushra Oloso described the action as capable of igniting religious conflict in Oyo State , adding that Oyo State Christian Community or Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN would spit fire and brimstone and allege Islamization agenda if Muslims were the ones going to public schools with Islamic foreign preachers or clerics to invite students to an open air program.
“This is an act of religious intolerance. Why would Principals in public Schools allow Christian Foreign Evangelists in their Schools if they were not part of plans to win souls for Christ as they usually say ? It was a gross infringement on the fundamental right to religion of the teeming Muslims in the Schools visited.
“Oyo FOMWAN condemns this action in totality and warns the Organizers and their cohorts especially the School heads and principals to desist from attempt to coerce and force Muslim children into Christianity. Don’t ruin the religious harmony already existing in Oyo State. ” Oyo FOMWAN,” Amirah warned.
According to the statement, It is imperative for the Oyo State Chairman of TESCOM, Pastor Akin Alamu to see his position as a public trust and not an opportunity to Christianize the Commission or work with some foreign Christian agents to force Muslim students to Christianity.
“No one is in doubt as to the mission of Christ For All Nations Ministry (CFAN) under Evangelist Daniel Kolenda. It is to gain more converts but Allah has promised victory for the Muslims. In the concluding verse of Suratul Anfaal, Quran Chapter 8 verse 30 Allah says, “…. they plot and plan, and Allah too plans but the best of planners is Allah. Pastor Akin Alamu of TESCOM may resign his position and return to full evangelism work if he will not be fair to all religions,” She said.
The Oyo State Amirah of FOMWAN said though the organizers of the program had tendered apology for their action and for trampling on the fundamental right to freedom of religion by the Muslim students, the Principals and other School Heads who gave them permission to hold students to ransom with their preaching to the extent of preventing Muslim students from observing compulsory Friday prayer should be reprimanded by the Oyo State Government and the Ministry of Education.
“As Muslims we have been taught not to coerce anyone into our faith and we will resist any attempt by anyone or a group to force their faith on us. FOMWAN is also using this medium to warn Oyo State TESCOM and SUBEB to stop allowing the same Christian Evangelists who go about distributing pocket bibles to students of public schools. When has it been reported to the Oyo State Ministry of Education or the Oyo State Government that some Muslims visited Public schools to distribute the Holy Quran? We will never do that. The Christians are the ones always exhibiting religious intolerance. All this act of provocation must stop,” Alhaja Oloso stressed.
