The Muslim Rights group(MURIC) has asked the education authorities in Lagos State to desist from luring innocent Muslim Students to the annual Christian programme of the founder of the Christ Embassy, Pastor Chris Oyakhilome, under the guise of ‘fake humanitarian programmes’.
A statement made by the chairman, of the Lagos chapter of MURIC, Dr. Busari Ademola, says.
“We are deeply worried by the incessant luring of innocent Muslim Students to church programmes, particularly that of Pastor Chris Oyakhilome”.
Dr Ademola on Thursday bashed officers of the state’s Ministry of Education for allegedly luring students to the programme through official invitation.
He however added that the programme is investigated and sponsored by the cleric who, in conjunction with the officials of the Lagos State ministry of education, arranged the transportation of students to the venue.
“The students irrespective of their faiths are ferried to Christian programmes and deceived with gifts.
“This deceitful event has been on for more than five years. This year’s programme which is slated for December 3, 2023 is coined as ‘Invitation to Host Students in Commemoration of Birthday of their Principal, Pastor Chris Oyakhilome’ through a school named Teens Voice Academy Lagos,” the statement read in part.
Ademola said it was “unbelievable and unspeakable” for ministry officials to be directing principals of public schools in the six districts to arrange students for such an event.
“Where is the correlation? On whose directives is this happening? Is Pastor Oyakhilome now the owner of Lagos State public schools? LASG has sold out Lagos to Oyakhilome,” the group asked.
“It is then crystal clear that the organisers and certain elements in the ministry, via educational districts are behind this programme to adulterate the faith of innocent Muslim children with Christian ideologies.
“To this end, MURIC strongly condemns the involvement of state paraphernalia in a pastor’s birthday celebration. It is hero-worshiping taken too far.
“LASG has no right whatsoever to use students of public schools for a private individual’s birthday programme. While we object to using any student, whether Muslim or Christian for Oyakhilome’s party, we have serious objection to using a single Muslim student for same.
“The parents entrusted their children to LASG mainly for academic purpose, taking them out on evangelical jamboree is definitely not part of the deal. It is therefore gross abuse of trust to divert students’ attention to the birthday party of a pastor.
“School children can attend the governor’s function or that of the president of Nigeria because those are government officials. The pastor is also free to organise students of private schools to attend his birthday. We must draw a line of demarcation between clerics and public officers.
“It is taking the joke too far if pastors and Imams are elevated to the level of governors and heads of state by making students of public schools to attend their birthdays. It is another form of slavery.
“MURIC is therefore calling on the Lagos State Government, the State Ministry of Education and all Tutor Generals throughout the State to ensure that no single student of Lagos public schools is taken to Oyakhilome’s birthday programme.
MURIC ended by reminding leaders that religion is not by cohesion, our children must be spared of this neo-colonial practice. We are all Nigerians, live peacefully and let live,” MURIC said.
