The Muslim community in Ondo State has opposed plans by the state government to return some schools to faith-based organisations.
Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu had last month said that St Thomas Aquinas College, St. Louis Girls Grammar School, Akure and two primary schools will be returned to their original owners.
The military administration of David Ikpeme had,
In September 1976, seized missionary schools in the state.
Reacting to the government move, the Muslim community in the state described the decision of the state government as fraudulent.
The religious group made its position on the issue known at a press conference held at the NUJ Press Center in Akure,
The Muslim community appealed to Akeredolu not to return schools to the missionaries, asking him to consider the downtrodden in the state.
Abdulrasheed Akerele, the Secretary of the League of Imams and Alfas in Ondo State, advised the state government to invest in education and build more schools.
“Ondo state government for the sake of posterity, the unborn generation, the development of the state and even for the sake of the traumatized and impoverished masses should not return schools to Faith-Based Organisations.
“This is because of its daring consequences as more children will be thrown out of schools because their parents would definitely not be able to afford the fees that will be imposed by such organisations.
“Returning of schools to FBOs will be the fraud of the century because this is simply handing over public properties to Private business orientated individuals in the name of FBO’S”.
He said that if the state government does not reverse its decision to return the schools to their missionary owners, the Muslim community will be forced to seek legal redress.