VETERAN JOURNALIST AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS ANALYST, MR EDDY AINA, HAS ACCUSED LEADERS OF USING RELIGION AND ETHNICITY TO DEVIDE THE COUNTRY.

HE MADE THIS KNOWN WHILE SPEAKING DURING THE PROGRAM, PANORAMA, ON SPLASH FM ABEOKUTA, TODAY, AGAINST THE BACKDROP OF THE ACTION OF THE KWARA STATE GOVERNMENT OVER THE USE OF HIJABS IN CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS, IN THE STATE.

MR. AINA NOTED THAT THERE ARE TWO SIDES TO THE STORY; THE CONSTITUTIONAL STANCE AND THE ENTITLEMENT OF THE MISSIONARIES WHO ESTABLISHED THE SCHOOLS WHOSE RIGHTS SHOULD BE RESPECTED.

HE NOTED THAT NIGERIA IS A VERY RELIGIOUS COUNTRY, AS A RESULT OF THIS, RELIGIOUS INTOLERANCE IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST PROBLEM NIGERIA WILL CONTINUE TO BATTLE WITH.

SPEAKING ON THE LEGALITY OF THE ACT,  BARRISTER KAYODE ADEREMI, NOTED THAT  THE LAW GIVES FREEDOM OF RELIGION AND NOTED THAT RELIGIOUS COMMUNITY, CAN ONLY DECIDE ON WHAT TO WEAR BY THE PUPILS  IF THE SCHOOL IS CONTROLLED AND MAINTAINED BY A RELIGIOUS GROUP.

THEY CALLED ON RELEVANT STAKE HOLDERS TO UNITE AND FIND A LASTING SOLUTION TO THE IMPASSE FOR THE PEACEFUL COEXISTENCE IN THE SOCIETY.