Traditional worshippers in the south-west have warned Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq to desist from acts that would incite violence in Kwara State.

This comes in reaction to the controversial hijab policy imposed on missionary schools in the state to allow Muslim students to use headcover in schools.

The policy has generated outrage and clashes between Christians and Muslims in the state with some churches vowing to resist the government directive.

Speaking on the issue in Oyo State on Tuesday, the global head of Ifa priests, otherwise called the Araba Agbaye, Chief Owolabi Aworeni, cautioned that any Muslim child who chooses to attend a Christian school must follow the principles of the school and vice versa.

He also urged the House of Representatives to halt a bill that sought to institutionalise the use of hijab in the country.

The Araba, represented by his deputy, the Araba Oluisese of Ibadan, Ifalere Odegbola,  stated that , “We are appealing to the Governor of Kwara State to caution against steps that are capable of turning Kwara State and the entire country into crises.

“Peace will reign supreme if religions generally are given pride of place. Let the Christian schools be, same for Muslim schools and schools for the traditional worshippers, without any religion lording it over the other.

“A traditional worshipper who decides to attend Christian school should imbibe the Christian practices and principles and ditto for a Christian child who chooses to attend a Muslim school. If he decides to attend the school, he has to abide by the practices.

“It is wrong for a child who belongs to another faith to want to force his way through. The governor should desist from acts that can incite violence or civil disorderliness. Academics should not continue to get interrupted as we have it at the moment.

“In the same vein, we are appealing to the National Assembly to drop the issue of use of hijab; we are warning that religious intolerance should not be allowed to polarise us as a people. Nigeria as a secular nation should be receptive to all religions and people should be free to practice their own faith without any interference.”