The Muslim Rights Concern, MURIC, has criticised Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State over his refusal to declare a public holiday to mark the beginning of the Muslim New Year in the state.
DAILY NIGERIAN reports that the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’d Abubakar II has declared Tuesday as the first day of the Hijrah calendar, 1443 A.H.
Issuing a statement on Monday in commemoration of the Day, the MURIC Director, Ishaq Akintola, rejected Mr Makinde’s excuse for refusing to recognize the Hijrah Day.
According to him, the governor had said that the day was not gazetted by the previous regime.
The statement said: “It will be recalled that MURIC called for the declaration of a holiday today, Monday 9th August, 2021 in order to mark Hijrah Day (1st Muharram, 1443 A.H.).
“Although the Federal Government (FG) has not declared the Hijrah holiday, many states have deemed it fit to hearken to our call by doing the needful. Among such states are Jigawa, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Osun and Oyo. MURIC commends state governors who took this bold step.
“But the case of Oyo State must be singled out because of what is playing out in Ibadan. Whereas Oyo Muslims enjoyed Hijrah holiday for eight good and uninterrupted years under the late Isiaka Ajimobi who was the immediate past governor of the state, the incumbent, Engr. Seyi Makinde chose to out-Herod Herod by discontinuing the continuum for two consecutive years (2019 and 2020).
“Makinde has another thing coming if he thinks Oyo Muslims will thank him for declaring Hijrah holiday this year. It is our right and our right is our right. It is not a privilege and no matter how long, all those who are depriving Muslims of their Allah-given fundamental human rights will be disgraced when Muslims secure those rights willy-nilly, without bloodshed or any form of violence. We will get there one day.
“Makinde’s excuse for refusing to recognize Hijrah Day was that it was not gazetted by the previous regime. We hope it has now been gazetted. The governor has forgotten that Oyo Muslims cannot be fooled. Is it gazette they are asking for or Hijrah holiday? How did they enjoy it under Ajimobi without a gazette?
“What does the Muslim in the street care about gazette? All he wants is his Hijrah holiday but now he knows that his right was abridged with impunity by Makinde for two years. What we know is that government is a continuum and a policy decision is a policy decision.
“Makinde has discontinued a continuum. It is not done. It is a major breach of protocol and an inexcusable administrative infringement.
“The struggle continues next year. MURIC will monitor those states that declared hijrah holiday this year. We are still marshalling reports from our state branches even as we warm up for more activities next year.
“For the records, MURIC adopted dialogue only on this issue because of the prevailing air of insecurity in the country. Peaceful demonstrations can be hijacked by rebellious and irredentist elements.
“We do not want to use a wrong method to pursue a good cause. The senseless destructions which greeted #EndSARS protests are enough as a lesson. Nonetheless, it is our hope that FG will do everything necessary to declare a public holiday to mark Hijrah Day in 2022”
Muric, therefore, congratulated Nigerian Muslims as they joined more than 1.8 billion Muslims around the world in marking thE Day.
The group also felicitated with President Muhammadu Buhari, the Sultan of Sokoto and other Muslim leaders in Nigeria.
“As more than 1.8 billion Muslims around the world mark this year’s Hijrah Day 1443 A.H., the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) congratulates President Muhammadu Buhari, the leader of all Nigerian Muslims, the Sultan of Sokoto and President General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Alhaji Muhammad Sa’d Abubakar, leaders of all Islamic organisations and Nigerian Muslims in general,” the statement added.
