7th
January, 2022
PRESS RELEASE :
DECLARE 1ST MUHARRAM HIJRAH HOLIDAY TO
JUSTIFY 1ST JANUARY GREGORIAN HOLIDAY – MURIC
A faith-based human rights organisation, the Muslim Rights Concern
(MURIC), has demanded the declaration of the first day of the Islamic calendar (1st
Muharram) as Hijrah holiday to justify the 1st January Gregorian
holiday that is declared annually by the Federal Government of Nigeria (FG).
The group insists that 1st January holiday is a Christian colonial
creation designed to dignify and rubber-cushion the pomp and pageantry of
Christmas. It therefore argues that only the recognition of the first day of
the Islamic new year can balance the equilibrium and ensure parity, justice and
fairplay.
MURIC’s demand was made on Friday, 7th January, 2022 by its
director, Professor Ishaq Akintola.
MURIC said :
“As usual, the Federal Government
(FG) declared 1st January, 2022, a public holiday in recognition of
the first day of the Christian Gregorian calendar. But because the day fell on
a Saturday, FG created an alternative by declaring the following Monday a
public holiday.
“This was an aberration and a gross
injustice because Nigerian Muslims have been demanding the declaration of the
first day of the Islamic calendar as a holiday for more than twenty (20) years
to no avail. It simply means that FG under President Muhammadu Buhari is also
supporting the Christianisation of Nigeria. It considers the first day of the
Christian calendar as sacred while the first day of the Islamic calendar is
regarded as unimportant.
“MURIC frowns at this lopsided arrangement. It is unfair, unjust and
undemocratic. We demand immediate review of FG’s holiday policy. We demand the
declaration of the first day of the Islamic calendar as a holiday to justify
the 1st January holiday that is declared annually by FG.
“It is important to note that the Christian calendar was established by
Pope Gregory XIII (1502 - 1585) while the Islamic calendar was kicked off on 16th
July, 622 to mark the historical migration (hijrah) of Prophet Muhammad (SAW)
from Makkah, where the Muslims faced persecution, to Madinah, where they found
religious freedom.
“The decree which declared Anno Hijrae was promulgated in 639 C.E.
during the reign of Umar bin Khattab, the second orthodox khalifah (622 – 644).
The Islamic calendar also finds divine expression in the Glorious Qur’an 9:36;
2:189; 10:5 and 17:12. Unlike the Gregorian calendar, therefore, the Islamic
hijrah calendar is not a product of human machination and manipulation.
“Being a product of a people
hitherto repressed by the pagans of Makkah, the Islamic calendar is also an
instrument of freedom and liberation. Seen from this angle, all past and
present efforts made by Nigerian Muslims for the actualisation of hijrah
holiday is therefore part of the struggle for the emancipation of Nigerian
Muslims from the clutches of Christian neo-imperialism, oppression and
persecution.
“1st January holiday is a Christian colonial creation
designed to dignify and rubber-cushion the pomp and pageantry of Christmas. In
the interest of peace, FG should review this Christian colonial heritage.
Nigeria became independent 62 years ago for crying out loud. 62 years is long
enough to right wrongs perpetrated by the British slave masters.
“Unfortunately, Muslims are still
being treated like slaves and third class citizens by the government of
Nigeria. It is too glaring to be denied. FG continues to impose an inferiority
complex on Nigerian Muslims. We reject this imbalance. We will not suffer in
silence. We will raise our voices on Nigerian streets and cities. We will cry
out in the villages, in the creeks and in the forests. The valleys, hills and
mountains will echo our voices. We will rather be free men in our graves than
live like puppets and slaves.
“Democracy is fraudulent without equal participation, equal rights and
justice. We demand parity now and only the recognition of the first day of the
Islamic new year can balance the equilibrium and ensure parity, justice and
fairplay. Holidays are part of the dividends of democracy. However, the
dividends must not be dished out in a selective manner.
“What explanation does FG have for giving Christians holiday on the
first day of their calendar while Muslims are denied same? What right has FG to
allow one faith to enjoy holiday on the first day of its calendar while the
other creed is forced to go to work on its own first day? It is modern day
slavery, no more, no less.
“To strike a balance, we demand the declaration of 1st
Muharram as a holiday for the Muslim Hijrah calendar. In the alternative or if
government thinks this demand is unreasonable, FG should stop declaring 1st
January as a holiday. That is when we will know who has been benefitting from
it and who has been losing and hurting.
“The fact that many state
governments in Nigeria have been recognising 1st Muharram (Hijrah
holiday) and declaring the day as a public holiday underpins its relevance,
significance and the correctness of the hypothesis of its proponents. Many core
Northern states declare 1st Muharram as holiday every year. So what
stops FG from doing same at federal level?
“It is noteworthy that the current Minister of the Interior, Rauf
Aregbesola, a Muslim, declared Hijrah holiday in Osun State when he was
governor. The late Governor Isiaka Ajimobi who was equally a Muslim, also declared
hijrah holiday in Oyo State.
“But his successor, Seyi Makinde who is a Christian, refused to follow
suit in his first two years in office until Muslims in the state forced him to
do so in his third year (2021). There is no gainsaying the fact that Makinde
will be gambling with his second term if he fails to declare the hijrah holiday
this year (2022).
“Our message to President Muhammadu Buhari is this: For six years MURIC
consistently reminded you about the need to give Nigerian Muslims the 1st
Muharram Hijrah holiday. But you ignored it. Nigerian Muslims would have
engraved your name in letters of gold if you had done so. Your tenure remains
just one year and five months. You have just one more chance to right the wrong
done by the Christian colonial masters against Nigerian Muslims on the issue of
1st Muharram hijrah holiday before you hand over power in 2023.
“The next hijrah holiday will fall on 29th July, 2021, ceteris
paribus. That will be 1st Muharram, 1444. You can still have
your name printed on the sands of time. We know you have the courage. You
already have many firsts anyway. It is on record that you declared June 12 a
national holiday and heaven did not fall. That was a feat many past presidents
feared to touch. You named the National Stadium, Abuja after MKO Abiola. There
have been many more.
“This earth planet will not tumble
if you declare 29th July, 2022 Hijrah holiday in recognition of the
first day of the Islamic calendar. This is the time to ignore noise makers. All
the quibbling about you Islamising Nigeria is mere blackmail. It is an attempt
to stop you from returning Allah-given fundamental rights of Muslims to them.
“Those behind the allegation of Islamisation are aware of atrocities
committed against Nigerian Muslims in the past. The Islamisation propaganda is
a ruse and a smokescreen designed as the well known ‘attack is the best form of
defence’ strategy used by pathological cheats all over the world. Don’t fall
for it. Go ahead, Sai Baba. Balance the equilibrium. Live up to your name as a
just and equitable ruler. Justify your new appellation as the Father of Modern
Nigeria (FMN). Give us Hijrah holiday.”
Professor Ishaq
Akintola,
Director,
Muslim Rights
Concern (MURIC)
