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Dahiru Usman Bauchi, an Islamic cleric, has rejected the decision by Governors of Northern States to prohibit the Almajiri System in their region.
Bauchi told The Sun in an interview that the decision is unconstitutional and a violation of their rights to freedom of religion.
“The constitution of the country gives us the freedom to practice our religion the way we want it. Our biggest religion is the Quran. Since the Quran has given them (those in power) laws that they have refused to abide with, what right do they have to give instructions or law to the Quran? Based on that, we will not accept the ban on Almajiri by northern governors,” he said.
“Our right to freedom of worship is being violated.”
The cleric also said moving the Almajiris “like animals” from one place to another was also a violation of their rights to movement and therefore was unacceptable.
Recall in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, several Northern Governors had embarked on repartriation of some of the Almajiri kids in a bid to prevent the spread of the virus.
“We will not accept violation of our right to go to any part of the country to practice our religion,” he said.
“The reason is because there is a government and the government operates by a constitution. The constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria gives every citizen the right to movement, the right to practice their religion. These students (Almajirai) are Nigerians.
“Packing our people like animals and moving them from one place to the other, we will not accept. As Nigerians, we have a right to practice our religion. The Quran is the basis of our religion. We will not accept any violation of our rights.
“We will not accept the ban on Almajiri. We have the right to go anywhere in the world to read the Quran.”
Bauchi was also aggrieved that the governors did not consult him before they banned the system.
