League of Imams, Alfas Opposes Ogun Govt’s Plan To Return Schools To Missionaries
ABEOKUTA – The League of Imams and Alfas in Ogun State has strongly opposed the state government’s reported plan to return public schools to their original missionary owners, describing the move as discriminatory and capable of undermining religious harmony.
In a statement signed by its Secretary General, Imam Tajudeen Mustafa Adewunmi, the Islamic body rejected the proposal “in the strongest possible terms,” characterising it as ill-advised, provocative, and unjustifiable.
The group argued that the policy represents a misinterpretation of history, noting that the nationalisation of schools was originally intended to eliminate sectarian control and promote inclusivity in the education sector.
According to the League, reversing this decision could rekindle religious divisions and destabilise the longstanding peaceful coexistence in the state.
“This policy is not only a gross misreading of history but a dangerous affront to the principles of equity, justice, and religious balance in a plural society,” the statement read.
“To reverse this progress is to deliberately court division, deepen distrust, and destabilise the fragile harmony that has defined our state for decades.”
The League further described the proposed move as discriminatory, alleging that it prioritises the interests of a particular religious group over the collective rights of all citizens.
It emphasised that the Muslim community, which it said constitutes a significant and historically rooted segment of Ogun State, would not accept any policy that transfers public institutions built and maintained with public resources to sectarian control.
“We categorically reject any policy that seeks to cede public institutions that were built, upgraded, and managed with the resources of all to sectarian control under any guise,” the statement added.
The organisation called on the Ogun State Government to immediately and unconditionally abandon the plan, warning that failure to do so would be interpreted as a disregard for fairness and inclusive governance.
It also cautioned that any attempt to proceed without broad consultation and equitable safeguards could lead to “firm, coordinated, and lawful resistance” from the Muslim community and other stakeholders.
Emphasising the role of government in fostering unity, the League urged the authorities to avoid policies that could reignite sectarian tensions.
“Government exists to unite, not to divide; to protect, not to provoke. Ogun State must not be dragged backwards into an era of exclusion and sectarian dominance,” the statement concluded.
As of the time of filing this report, the Ogun State Government had not issued an official response to the concerns raised by the League of Imams and Alfas.
