According to the statement, the group allegedly harbours female
students for prostitution and teaching of an "alien doctrine".
As I have come to expect - and
get used to unfortunately, all kind of strange things are always
happening in Nigeria. Today's strangeness is coming out of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State.
Apparently,
the Divisional Student Affairs department of the University has stated
that it is going to shut down all the mosques in all the hostel in the
school.
But why would anyone want to close down a mosque? Well, the Dean of the Divisional Students Affairs department, Dr. G. O. Akinola,
in a statement, says the mosques will be closed down for numerous
reasons stemming from countless allegations made against a 'splinter
group' called MSSN.
According to the statement, the group allegedly harbours female students for prostitution and teaching of an "alien doctrine". Read the rest of the statement below and decided for yourself if this is as weird as I think it is:
“The
Division of Students Affairs (DSA) acting upon the Statutes and
Regulations of Obafemi Awolowo University hereby declares closed until
further notice, the two purported mosques in Awolowo and Fajuyi Halls
for the reasons of peace, free movement of students and staff within the
Halls and the overriding need for the security of all persons, assets
and installation in the Halls.
The reasons for this closure are as set out below:
1.
On Friday 12th August, 2016 when the current executive members of the
Muslim Students Society of Nigeria (MSSN), Obafemi Awolowo University
(OAU), Ife Branch were to be inaugurated at the Central Mosque, the
Division of Students Affairs (DSA) was invited and was duly represented
by the Vice Dean of the Division. There were issues at the inauguration
when we were told of another group of Muslim students who wanted to
impose themselves and their doctrines which are not consistent with the
Constitution of the MSSN members. At that point the Vice-Dean was asked
to interact with this group with a view to finding out what their
arguments and positions were;
2. After
the Vice-Dean’s interaction with the group (which is yet to give a name
to itself, although they insisted that they should be called MSSN too),
we decided to call members of the group to a meeting at the DSA.
They
came on Tuesday, 23rd August 2016 at 6.15pm. After several attempts at
making them attend the parley failed, we eventually held a meeting with
them on this 23rd August. We stressed at the meeting the point that the
DSA is only aware of the existence of only one MSSN as a registered
Muslim students’ group on the campus of the Obafemi Awolowo University,
Ile-Ife.
We
impressed it on the group that even the DSA is also aware that the
National body of the MSSN recognises only one MSSN group here on campus.
We therefore advised the group to, if they have any issue of
disagreement between them and the mainstream MSSN, please for sake of
peace on campus and interest of their members take steps to sort them
out with the Executive of the MSSN on campus.
3.
The meeting deliberated extensively on how to bring this settlement
about and at the end of it, it was agreed that a period of one (1) week
be given to permit the group interact with the mainstream MSSN and
settle their disagreement amicably failing which the two ‘mosques’ at
Fajuyi and Awolowo Halls would be closed down for peace to reign.
Note
that this splinter group of the MSSN had begun to use the two ‘mosques’
in these Halls as a base for their anti-mainstream MSSN rhetorics and
doctrinal disagreement on campus, including recruitment of students for
their separate teachings. Note also, that these two ‘mosques’, converted
as such were originally Cafeteria buildings meant for the respective
halls under the University’s master plan.
We
also agreed at the meeting that if the DSA found that they were able to
make progress on the reconciliation, even if they have not completely
reached an agreement on doctrinal or worship issues, the suggestive
closure of the ‘mosque’ would be suspended to permit for more room for
rapport and deeper reconciliation. We agreed that we were going to meet
again on the very day that the one-week ultimatum to reconcile expired,
that is Tuesday 30th August, 2016. Meanwhile, desirous of a way to
convince the DSA that the splinter group meant well, they invited the
DSA to visit the two ‘mosques’ in Fajuyi and Awolowo Halls to see that
there was nothing sinister in the activities of the splinter group and
that if anything at all, they have been peaceful and law-abiding.
4.
However, on Thursday 25th August, a meeting was held with the
University recognized MSSN Executive members. This same MSSN Executive
is also recognised by the OAU Muslim Community and by the National body
of MSSN in Nigeria. That meeting was called to hear the complaints of
the splinter MSSN members and their grievances. The recognized MSSN was
informed of the University’s plan to close the ‘mosques’ in Fajuyi and
Awolowo Halls if the splinter group of the MSSN failed to make peace
with the mainstream MSSN and reconcile accordingly;
5.
On Friday 26th August, the MSSN National body paid a courtesy visit to
the DSA to discuss the furore over the recognized MSSN on campus. The
visitation team led by the President of the National MSSN, Muhammad
Jameel Muhammad came in company of the campus mainstream MSSN and some
of his officials. The thrust of their visit was to make a passionate
appeal to the DSA on their fear for the possibility of “emergence on the
OAU campus of an extremist group of Muslim students in a fashion
similar to the current Boko Haram insurgency besetting Nigeria”. They
expressed some fears and strongly felt that the splinter MSSN group in
OAU and what they referred to as “their strange doctrinal principles
and procedures” could lead to the materialization of such fears. The
visitation team pleaded with the University through the DSA to do all
that was lawful and needful to see that such fears were allayed. The
visitation team also reiterated their support for the recognized MSSN
mainstream organization and its president. In addition, the team gave a
copy of the MSSN Constitution and 5 copies of the articles of faith of
the MSSN titled “MSSN at a Glance” to the DSA;
6.
On the night of 27th August, 2016 reports came to the Acting Dean, DSA,
that the splinter MSSN group were planning to hold a religious
programme in Awolowo Hall Cafeteria the following day (i.e. 28th August,
2016), for which they had not sought or obtained permission. The Acting
Dean reported to the University Chief Security Officer who immediately
sent a group of his men to see how things would go with a view to
apprehending any illegality or untoward behaviours and report forthwith.
Report came that the religious programme held and that the leaders of
the splinter MSSN presided at that programme. The point here is that the
group failed to seek or secure approval for this religious activity in
the Cafeteria.
7. However, on the night
preceding the expiration of the ultimatum given to the Splinter MSSN
group, to make peace with the mainstream MSSN and reconcile accordingly,
a text message was sent to the Vice Dean, DSA, from the Splinter MSSN
group that they had contacted someone who would help broker the
reconciliation talks and that the person said he would see the Chief
Imam of the Central mosque later. The DSA quickly apprehended this as
delay tactics as the text could have been sent earlier. Otherwise, why
the night preceding the expiration of the ultimatum to reconcile? In any
case, on the agreed date when the ultimatum expired (Tuesday 30th
August, 2016), the DSA expected them to come for a meeting at the DSA’s
office, but to our chagrin they refused to show up.
8.
Meanwhile, acting upon the invitation earlier extended to the DSA by
this splinter MSSN group, the Acting Dean and Vice Dean at about 10.45am
on 31st August, 2016, visited the Fajuyi and Awolowo Halls with a view
to seeing for themselves samples of the activities of the splinter MSSN
group. We told them of many irregular and outright illegal things we
have heard them do at the ‘mosques’. We made them realise that they had
been holding unauthorized religious programmes in these ‘mosques’ and
several other places on campus without approval from the DSA. They,
however, argued that they had not been violent but law abiding and that
they had never done anything illegal or irregular in any of their
religious meetings.
9. But on this our
visit to Awolowo ‘mosque’, we discovered a door leading to one of the
rooms in the ‘mosque’ was securely locked from inside and the occupants
refused to open. We threatened to force the door open if they refused
any further, and after much persuasion, the door was opened and we
discovered to our utter amazement that a group of girls numbering about a
dozen were locked inside the room either fully or partially veiled. Our
amazement was that the room in which they were locked or locked
themselves was in a male hall, we wondered to no end why purported
female students would be locked up in a male hall during lecture hours,
no matter the excuse. Before we could interrogate them, some escaped
through the backdoor of the room but we were able to apprehend three of
them from whom we collected their identity cards.
10.
At the Fajuyi Hall, we also discovered to utter shock that a group of
girls who purported themselves to be students were locked in a room in
the ‘mosque’. We interrogated them and they claimed that they were kept
there by their leaders who happen to be the leaders of MSSN splinter
group. They, in addition claimed that they were praying in the room. Our
dilemma was why a group of female students would claim to be praying
during lecture hours in an exclusive male hall at around 11am! There was
five girls in this room and we collected the identity cards from four
of them. The fifth one who was fully veiled said she had not her
identity card on her. However, a male student who vouched for this fully
veiled girl volunteered to stand in for her until she produced her
identity card. We collected this male student’s identity card.
11.
Having observed the seeming obstinacy of the splinter MSSN group to
interact with the DSA and to fulfill the requirements of the agreement
reached on 23rd August, we again were forced to send a follow-up
invitation to them stating that they should come to the DSA for a
meeting on Wednesday, 31st August for a serious interaction at the DSA’s
office. But to our utter dismay they sent a text message to the DSA
that all of them in the group would be having Continuous Assessment
tests from 10am to 5pm on 31st August, 2016. We replied that text
message that no test of any kind could possibly last from 10am to 5pm in
this University and that in their own interest they needed to show up
for the meeting on or before 2.00pm on 31st August to discuss the issue
of reconciliation as agreed in our last meeting with them.
12.
The splinter MSSN group eventually came in the afternoon of 31st August
at about 1.15pm. We intimated them with our findings and told them they
had to put a stop to their practice of harbouring girls in rooms within
the ‘mosques’. Their leaders insisted that they could not abide by that
demand and that they reserved the right to keep any of their female
members in the rooms in the ‘mosque’! We explained to them that what
they were doing was contrary to the laws of the University and the
regulations guiding religious worship and students’ conduct. But they
held their ground that since the ‘mosque’ was a place of worship they
could not abide by the rules and the need to desist from keeping female
students within its rooms at any time. The meeting ended in a stalemate.
13.
We thereafter pleaded with the Chief Imam of the University to take
full charge of the ‘mosques’ and prevent forthwith any breach of the
University’s rules within its walls. He declined flatly and said he
would rather not be held responsible for what ever happened in those
‘mosques’ as he had since dissociated himself from the practices and
doctrines of the splinter MSSN who controlled it.
14.
It should be noted that the Federal Government, of Nigeria of which
Obafemi Awolowo University is an integral part, has not legalized
prostitution in Universities. It is pertinent to note also that no
female should be camped in a male facility under the guise of religion,
as this is tantamount to running a brothel which will breed
prostitution; and this is illegal. It is only fit, proper and
responsible that any grossly abused university facility be closed down.
15.
Consequently, acting within its powers to prevent any breakdown of law
and order and to ensure freedom of movement of persons within the
respective halls of residence, especially at this time of dire security
concern in the country, the DSA has therefore acted this 2nd day of
September, 2016 to seal off and close down henceforth, the two ‘mosques’
in Awolowo and Fajuyi Halls until such a time that orderliness and the
rule of the University would be respected within its walls.
Signed: Dr. (Mrs.) G. O. Akinola
(Acting Dean, Division of Students’ Affairs)
Stamped!"
