In the mid 2000s, while having a modest celebration of my nikkah, I came across a prophetic saying for the first time. The saying was even more historic because it caused a minor crisis that took us close to an hour to resolve.
A friend who traveled all the way from Ibadan to Abeokuta for the event had enquired about something and another friend, who is an Arabist had uttered a statement in Arabic. The next thing I saw was the former insisting that the latter must explain why he had to utter such a statement in response to his question. I later got to know that the Arabist simply said “you may do as you wish” in Arabic. The exact words used were the same as the concluding part of a longer saying which literally goes thus “he who has no shame, may do as he wishes”.
I narrated this incident because actions that are synonymous with shamelessness are something I least expect to find among the adherents of any Abrahamic faith, especially those who claim to be more cultured and civilised than others. There are simply certain boundaries of decency that must never be crossed, but when people lose their sense of shame, they lose everything.
I had all my degrees at the University of Ibadan (UI) and have always held the knowledge gained from the school along with those transferring the knowledge in high esteem. One of the best general studies courses I took while studying at the school was GES 102 titled Culture and Civilisation. The course has a great impact on my understanding of culture till today. A major take away from the course is that culture is dynamic. Therefore, trying to make it stagnant is an attempt in futility.
It is no longer news that the efforts of a few courageous Muslims at improving the culture of the University-owned secondary school, International School, Ibadan (ISI) eventually became fruitful at the Oyo State High Court. This did not come as a surprise because every sensible Nigerian knows that the issue of the Hijab has already been settled at the highest court in the land. What is however news, is the reaction of some Christian leaders to the judgement.
On the 10th of July, 2024, sitting inside Court room 6 of the Oyo State High Court at Ring Road, Ibadan, I counted three clerics (in collar) and a few other individuals who I recognise from the University coming to solidarise with ISI and UI in a stay of execution suit filed by the duo. What amazed me was their interest in the case.
For the benefit of those reading about the case for the first time, some concerned Muslim parents had taken the school to court on account of their daughters being prevented from using the Hijab over their school uniforms, after all entreaties to the authorities failed.
After the court had granted the parents’ requests, female Muslim students in the school immediately executed the judgement and have been enjoying the same for more than a month without it generating any rancour.
However, the school authorities, engineered by a bitter section of the community decided to file a stay of execution suit to stall the implementation of the already implemented judgement. This, I understand, is within their rights. Afterall, the fund for pursuing the aimless adventure is not coming from their pockets – na government money, but tell me why the Christian community should be bitter about the Muslims getting their rights when such rights do not infringe on the rights of the Christians in anyway? Is it mini-witchcraft or just sheer bellyaching?
This is just not starting in the life of this case. I could recall sighting the long bus belonging to the Chapel of Resurrection conveying Christians to the venue of the court on two different occasions when the case first commenced in 2019. I could also remember wondering about the interest of Prof. Adebisi Sowunmi, a known Christian leader, in the case that would make her lead the Chapel team to the court on the two occasions.
Five years after, I became even more curious as to why the supposed civilised Christian community would not understand that the ISI culture is behaving true to type like every other culture – evolving! The dynamic culture is simply reflecting the Muslim flavour of its component parts.
In my view, nothing depicts shamelessness more than this open support for an inhuman cause of trying to stop fellow humans from living in accordance with the tenets of their faiths, especially when looking the other way would take nothing away from the expression of the Christian faith. It even becomes more shameful when those who are expected to be revered within the Christian faith are the poster boys of the shameless act of urging the school to stop little girls from appearing in a more decent and dignifying manner.
Dr. Idris Olabode Badiru writes from Ibadan, Nigeria.
Contact: bodebadru@gmail.com
Read also: Jumu’ah Post: Hijrah; turning the tables
