*ENOUGH OF THE MARGINALIZATION OF CHRISTIANS IN KWARA STATE
(A PRESS RELEASE BY THE YOUTH WING OF CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA, (YOWICAN), KWARA STATE CHAPTER, THURSDAY, 16TH JUNE, 2022.)*

INTRODUCTION
Our attention have been drawn to a letter written by the Kwara State Muslim Stakeholders, a deliberate attempt to distort the truth and lay unfathomable lies against Christians in Kwara State.

Firstly, we want to state that Christians are known for peace, love and tolerance, which is why we have always remained calm even in the face of evident and wanton provocation.

For the avoidance of doubts, at no point in its history has CAN or any of its affiliates engaged in crime or the use of thugs because it is alien to our religion and beliefs.

It is however unimaginable that the Muslim community will attribute such to us.

The categorization of Kwara State as a Muslim State by the Kwara State Muslim Stakeholders also affirms our greatest fears on an hidden agenda in all the crisis rocking the peace of our State.

It confirms our fear that the consistent attack on the Christian community is mainly for dominance. Without any doubt, Christians are not in the minority, and our gentility is not for fear but for peace and harmony.

But today, we declare enough of marginalization of Christians and say NO to the Islamization agenda in Kwara also already been carried out.

The letter written by the Muslim community is another of their gimmicks and their usual way of fomenting trouble again and create a crisis in our beloved State with no regard to its cost to human lives and properties, as seen in previous years.
We have come to declare enough of the marginalization of Christians in Kwara State and we declare that we will no longer keep quiet or fold our hands.

Consistently, we have made calls like this that the government consistently ignored. But now is the time to follow it with actions. We may need to take you through some of the injustices against the Christian community in the State.

1. It is a known fact that the Muslim community orchestrated the Crisis at OBHS to cause unnecessary unrest. But today, the oppressors are the ones crying foe. As we earlier forecasted, since the hijab crisis broke out, the aim is not for the hijabs to be allowed in school but to completely take over the missionary schools in the State. Now from hijab in Christian schools, the plan is to change the schools' name and then finally take them over. The plans of the Muslim community is to deliberately distort the history and heritage of these schools and the sacrifices of its founding fathers before finally shutting out everything Christianity in these schools. Schools have been deliberately deprived of Christian religion teachers while some of them have as much as five Islamic religion teachers even in Christian schools. This portrays a sinister motive against the Christian faith and its believers. This is a carefully planned attack on the Christian community and must be resisted with every lawful means. There is no better way to describe the ongoing attack on the Christian community than pure oppression and marginalization.

2. Presently, most government public schools like Ilorin Grammar School, Government Secondary School, Taoheed secondary school, and others have mosques built right at the centre of the schools, but where are the Chapels for the Christian Students in these Schools? Christian schools have mosques built in them, but may I ask where the corresponding Christian Chapels are in the Muslim schools?

3. Today, every government establishment in Kwara State has a mosque built on their premises, while Christians were left to meet under trees, which must even be before work commences. Mosque in government offices are allowed to use horn speakers, which are turned on even during office hours. This is a blatant disregard for other religions and even unethical for work. But in Kwara State, this is the norm. If this is not oppression and religious intolerance, then what is it?

4. Attempts to build chapels at the Kwara State House of Assembly and The Kwara State Broadcasting Corporation (Radio Kwara) have been vehemently resisted by the government. These public institutions have mosques built in them without any resistance from the Christian community. These are government institutions which ought to be neutral when it comes to religion but have now become instruments against the Christian faith in Kwara State. If this is not marginalization, then what is it?

5. As it stands today, to be appointed as head of any Government-owned higher institutions in Kwara State, you must be a Muslim. This requirement have been consistently carried out over the years as seen in Kwara State University Molete, College of Education (Ilorin, Oro, Lafiagi) IVtech Ajase-Ipo, Health Tech Offa, Kwara State Polytechnic and many other institutions of higher learning in the State have implemented this unofficial requirement. Many senior Christian officers have been denied their rightful position not because they are not qualified but because of their faith. This is confirms the plan against Christians and it future in the State. Unfortunately, the instrument of government is been used to execute this unholy agenda.

6. The request for the permanent secretary for the ministry of education to be moved is another pointer to the deliberate attempt in ensuring that Christians do not have inputs in the education system in the State. We will not want to look into the present structure of the ministry of education, the Kwara State teaching service commission (TESCOM) and State universal basic education board (SUBEB) as these are glaringly a show of pure marginalization of Christians. This is aside the appointment structure and even promotion which deliberately malign the Christian community in the State.

7. The Appointment of only Muslim panel of judges at the just concluded Kwara Youth Fair 2.0 is also another pointer to Governments deliberate marginalization of Christians. If a program meant for both Christians and Muslims is adjudged only by Muslims the result should not be a surprise. No wonder all the winners are Muslims. If this is not marginalization, then what is it?

8. The appointment of a Muslim commissioner from Ekiti Local Government area is also a big slap on the Christians in that community, solely dominated by Christians. This only points to the agenda to deliberately marginalize the Christians in the State and ensure they are edged from governance and administration in the State.

9. The letter written by the Muslim community also points to the non-inauguration of members of the Arabic board and inter-religious committee by the State government. These points to the fact that there is an existing Arabic board, can we ask where is the theological board for the Christians? If this is not marginalization, then what is it?

10. The letter from the Muslim community also points to the non-declaration of Muharram as a public Holiday despite Easter Holidays.

This just points to the fact that the writers are out to create confusion and crisis where there should not be.

Easter is a national holiday if not a global holiday. The question is why should Kwara declare a holiday that is not approved nationally? Have there been a time when national Muslim holidays were not declared?

Comparing the two dates is the writers deliberate attempts to cause confusion and also create hatred and disdain against Christians which may fuel another crisis in the State. It is a known fact that during Ramadan, all Government establishments are closed an hour before closing time on Mondays to Thursdays and two hours every Friday.

Why is this not extended to Christians during Lenten period? If this is not marginalization, then what is it?

11. On the issue of Demolition of Mosque at the Bishop Smith Memorial College, the information is just a fallacy and lies from the pit of hell, there was no mosque in the that School, except erection of blocks at the Space magnanimous giving by the Christian proprietor of that School, the Muslim fanatics enter the school and destroyed the blocks, saying Government will build a new mosque for them. People should stop listening to them they are only crying wolf

*CONCLUSION:*

The entire Christian community still frowns at the use of hijabs in Christian Schools and the request for the change in present appointment structure of same schools as requested by the Muslim community.

We call on His Excellency Mallam Abdulrahman AbdulRasaq to urgently correct the ongoing injustice in the State as we have stated above. A stitch in time they say saves nine.

Christians are stakeholders in the State and they should be treated as such.

Under-rating the will power will mean a disrespect to all Christians as we can never continue to fold our arms


Signed.
Kwara State Yowican

Those stupid niggas are complaining of marginalization in kwara and they kept mute on how Muslims are being marginalizes in ondo and ekiti.

Sebi kwara even have Christian deputy governor,in ondo and ekiti,their deputies are Christians


And those schools they are saying it is Christians school ain't no Christian School as far as the govt are paying their teachers salaries!