Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi has once again insisted that the interest of the affected pupils must be given priority over and above any other consideration.

It would be recalled Abdullahi had come under attack for charging the State Governor to immediately reopen the affected schools in the interest of the educational pursuit of the Students.

However in a release signed by him and made available to Fresh Insight he said “Following my recent intervention on the closure of some schools in Kwara State, I have found it necessary to make the following clarification.

“I have closely observed the intense interests  that the said intervention had generated. And it is clear to me that while some of the reactions were based on deliberate distortion or misrepresentation of my statement ;  others were, in fact, based on genuine misunderstanding.

“Now that tempers have somewhat cooled, I find it pertinent to make this clarification for the benefit of those who may have been misled by the misrepresentation of my earlier statement.

“The statement was not in any way a comment on hijab, which I considered to be a settled matter. I was only concerned that the controversy over the issue of hijab was needlessly allowed to lead to  the closure of those schools, thereby further disrupting the education of children, which had already been affected by the COVID-19 lockdown even as these children were faced with important examinations.

“I had made my  intervention as a  parent myself, concerned only by the plight of these children and; driven by the same passion with which I had served this State as Commissioner for education. In making my comment, I was conscious that my statement could provide ammunition for  mischief makers, but I believe that the  issue of education of children is worth all risks and therefore must not be subject to any political considerations.

“I note the steps that have been taken by the State Government so far to restore normalcy to the schools. And I am glad to see that our government truly listens. I hereby restate my earlier appeal to all concerned to put the interest of the children above all other considerations. May God bless Kwara State and preserve our harmony” he added