Non-Teaching of CRK In Borno Schools And Rev Dikwa’s Faulty Narrative

Non-Teaching of CRK In Borno Schools And Rev Dikwa’s Faulty Narrative

By: Inuwa Bwala

I can never defend anybody over his or her roles in the contentious stoppage of the teaching of Christian Religious Knowledge CRK in Primary and Secondary  schools across Borno state.

Not because I am a Christian, but because I believe that, a sound moral background to the education of every child, irrespective of religious belief is a sine qua non to proper upbringing.

I am aware that Christians in Borno state have resolved to fight for the restoration of the teaching of CRK to their children in Borno state.

Perhaps, this is one policy I may never be able to defend my late boss: the firmer Governor of Borno state, Mala Kachallah: during whose tenure the controversial policy was introduced and implemented.

I was in that Government as his S A Media, but had little or no say at all, when it was being mulled untill it metamorphosed into a state policy. One fact however remains that, those who wrote the script snd forced it on Mala Kachallah were not only insensitive to the feelings of fellow citizens who were Christians, but most uncharitable to the Government that pledged and swore to uphold the secularity of the Nigerian state.

Be that as it may, I read Reverend Musa Dikwa,’s submissions in an interview with Sahara Reporters and I must confess that, though I respect the person of the Reverend Father, I totally disagree with him over his postulations, to the effect that, former Borno State Governor, Senator Kashim Shettima introduced the controversial policy, during his stewardship as Governor of Borno state.

Reverend Dikwa may not be a good student of history, being a clergyman, so I will tend to pardon the mix ups in his narrative on the issue of the non teaching if Christian Religious Knowledge in Borno schools. 

But I will not fail to caution against dragging people into unnecessary controversy at this period of our fragile political quest as a nation. 

I speak from position of authority as an insider, but not a participant in the intrigues that gave birth to that policy: controversial, as it remains. 

There emerged a group of Islamic fundamentalists around the year 2000 in Borno state, comprising of highly educated and influential individuals, who were bent on enforcing the principles of the Shariah law to the later.

They were the same people who drafted the Borno state version of the law and cajoled Governor Mala Kachallah into signing the law: albeit reluctantly.

The necessary instruments for the implementation of the law were not however put in place, but the same group recruited some boys, who went about dismantling all sculptures, erected at strategic points within the metropolis, under the guise of implementing Shariah law.

These were the same group that threatened to let hell loose, unless Governor Mala Kachallah implements the policy that forbids the teaching of CRK in state schools.

I stand to be corrected, but following trends of events in Borno state since that time, i have a very strong inkling that, the group was to later metamorphose into the dreaded Boko Haram.

Thise who are conversant with how the Government operated under Shettima can testify to the fact that he made attempts to reverse that policy, when he sent some of us out to try and pacify our Christian brothers who suffered some forms deprivations. It remains to Kashim Shettima’s credit that there was no single controversy involving his government.

I recall when the lands department attempted to regularize church building documents at a certain period, he assigned us to intervene and settled the matter, by letting the churches be, despite certain infractions in their papers 

How Reverend Dikwa got his own narrative from is still baffling to me, just as it is unfair to the person of Kashim Shettima, the Presidential running mate of the All Progressives Congress, APC.

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As at the time the policy was introduced, I make bold to say kashim Shettima was still in the private sector, pursuing a career as a banker, and never envisaged becoming the Governor or even pursuing unpopular policies as that one remains.

Having worked with Kashim Shettima, I can attest to his liberalism when it comes to issues of religion. For the period I worked with him, he has never demonstrated any form of discrimination in his policies.

I wish to place on record, that, Kashim Shettima was the first Governor to give two slots to Christians as commissioners and sponsored the highest number of Christian pilgrims ever by the Borno state Government.

I am aware that he has already pencilled down several Christians he plans to send for the pilgrimage this year, even as a private citizen.

I dare say, that, while Reverend Dikwa’s jaundiced story may sound sweet in the ears of political opponents and merchants of crisis, the truth must always be told: especially by those whose job it is to tell the truth. My take.

Non-Teaching of CRK In Borno Schools And Rev Dikwa’s Faulty Narrative