As controversy continues to trail the Bauchi State government's proposal to establish an Arabic and Islamic Education Board for the state, Christian women across the state have condemned in strong terms, the move and other government's policies inimical to the interest of Christians in the state. The women under the aegis of the ECWA Women Fellowship, Bauchi District Church Council have also registered their protest against some government programmes and actions which according to them "tended to clearly show favouritism and preference to one religion over the other." They expressed fear over government's "hidden agenda in the area of religious matters in the state."
In a letter titled: 'Protest Against Government Policies Adverse to Christian Interests' and signed by Mrs Ladi Inusa and Mrs Ramatu Japhet, Women Leader and Deputy respectively, the group said "our members and the generality of the Christian community have increasingly been agitated over the fate of christians within Bauchi state because of what has been happening in recent times against our religious faith across the state." The group also said part of its worries was derivable from the government intention to make Arabic Language compulsory in all the public schools in the state irrespective of the pupils' religious affiliation or preference.
Others, they added include, the refusal of some local government councils, especially Bauchi Local Government to employ christian religious teachers in primary schools and to promote existing ones despite the great need for them. "Instead, there is over-employment and regular promotion of Arabic and Islamic religious teachers," the group said. "The moves to establish a separate Board for Arabic and Islamic studies, to promote Islamic religion with public funds, without a co-related board for christians was against the christians interests in the state," the group added. It urged the state governors to take immediate steps to redress these issues and to restore the confidence of Christians, "who are increasingly agitating against preference for one religion over the others."
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