By Haroon Balogun

The Muslim Community of Oyo State (MUSCOYS) has condemned in strong terms the proposed plan by Oyo State Government to sell off schools in Oyo State contrary to the provisions of Universal Basic Education Act of 2014 and Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999. The group, reacting to the government’s arrangement, it said: “it is a strange phenomenon that Oyo State Government without consultation with all stakeholders unilaterally decided to sell what belongs to all the entire citizenry.”

It will be recalled that the state Governor, Sen. Abiola Ajimobi in 2015 set up Oyo State Inter Religious/Inter Ethnic Committee whose function was to meet regularly on issues of this nature but the committee only met once after its inauguration and the issue was not discussed at the meeting.

The chairman of the group Alhaji Ishaq Kunle Sanni and the secretary, Alhaji Mursiq Siyanbade said: “It is expected that to take a decision on such important matter, an education summit ought to have been organised before such pronouncement. It is like putting the cart before the horse. While we sympathise with government on paucity of funds, the Muslim Community of Oyo state will not allow the government to trade away the future of the children of the downtrodden just because of a few shylock.

“It is worrisome and disappointing that a governor that swore on his inauguration to protect the constitution now went against it by violating provisions of the same constitution and thereby destroying Obafemi Awolowo’s legacy of free education in the state which the Governor promised to uphold.

“One of the hallmarks of the present administration is the creation of peace in the land. The ripple effects of this policy may create chaos and anarchy in the state. For record purposes “the Universal Basic Education of 2014 states that “every government in Nigeria shall provide free compulsory and Universal Basic Education for every child of primary and junior secondary school age”, the group said.