If Lagos State Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola was
not a Moslem, the state’s partial ban of hijab in public schools would have
become a raging national issue by now. That the governor is a Moslem at least
makes it easier for critics to look at the issue from a more unbiased position
rather than the single story position it would have taken had the governor been
say a Christian.
Lagos is desperate to save itself from the terrorism
scourge. I have not seen this written anywhere but I believe one of the reasons
for the ban would be for the ease of identification of students during classes.
Contrary to reports, the ban is not an umbrella one. Pupils and students are
allowed to wear their hijab for regular prayers, to read the Holy Qur’an and for
their Jumat prayers on Friday. The students are prevented from wearing their
hijab during regular class sessions. Matters of religion in Nigeria and
elsewhere often times result in situations where even the wise suspend their
wisdom for Neanderthal emotions. This is at least one reason such a decision by
the Lagos State Government should not have been carried out without wide
consultations.
At what point does a law become discriminatory
against a particular religion or a set of people? Should we for the sake of the
rights of the majority clamp on the rights of the minority? Should we abuse the
rights of the individual and religious freedom to save ourselves from other
evils? Do we abuse justice in order to have peace? Can such peace last?
Like the okada ban, there will be government
decisions that will hurt many but the role of government is to do what is best
for the majority. Having said that, it is an act of irresponsibility for
government to carry out such functions without wide consultations. We can take a
look at France where this same issue is already creating tensions in a society
that knows the cost of religious tensions. Eight years ago, France applied this
same law and it came with its costs. Riots and disorder were the order of the
day. Eight years on, it remains a national issue. The least the Lagos State
Government could have done would have been to at least learn from the French
experience. Matters of religious importance should not be treated like matters
of the economy; this is beyond costs and benefits. Logic hardly decides who is
right or wrong here. Governor Raji Fashola should know better. What could be done to this law?
LOOD Naija
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