MURIC's claims on school relocation, unacceptable

The Ondo state government has described as unacceptable, the accusation by the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) that the State Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu is plotting to obliterate Islamic education and by extension, Muslims in the State.

A statement by the commissioner for information and orientation, Donald Ojogo on Wednesday said “In strong terms, Government considers unacceptable, the accusation by the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) that the State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu SAN was plotting to obliterate Islamic education and by extension, Muslims in the State.

The body had alluded to the relocation of the AUD Mega Primary School Oke Agbe Akoko as a basis for the claim. This is far from the truth. Such claim is at variance with the known stance of the Government in promoting religious harmony in Ondo State.

For record purposes, the decision to relocate AUD Mega Primary to pave way for a planned Campus of the Adekunle Ajasin University was taken in good faith. Succinctly, it could not have been other than the need to expand development through educational infrastructure, if at all.

The Mega School which was originally built to accommodate over 500 pupils but has less than 170 pupils prior to the relocation move, was undoubtedly, handy for the planned expansion of the AAUA. It is pertinent to note here that other Mega Schools across the State had in the past, provided infrastructural take-off points for tertiary institutions.

These include St. Peter’s C&S Mega Primary School,Uso(as a campus of the Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo); St James’ Ang. Mega Primary School, Ile-Oluji(for the Federal Polytechnic, Ile-Oluji);St. Dominic’s RCM Mega Primary School, Ayeka, Okitipupa(for the Ondo State University of Science and Technology and L. A. Mega Primary School, Oke-Igbala,Ondo(for UNIMED).

It is imperative to equally State that in the above instances, alternative places were provided while proper arrangements were made to initiate steps for permanent schools for the pupils without affecting the moral and educational standards of the affected pupils.

The case of AUD Mega School is not different. Indeed, an alternative arrangement has not just been made for the pupils. The State Universal Basic Education Board(SUBEB) has asked the Community to identify a piece of land for the construction of a new permanent site. The process for the construction of the new permanent site will commence immediately after the interface with the Community.

Nonetheless, while efforts are being made by Government to deepen consultations with relevant stakeholders, it is hoped that steps inimical to religious harmony, peaceful coexistence and good neigbourliness would be avoided by all and sundry.