5th March, 2025
PRESS RELEASE:
OUTCRY OVER RAMADAN HOLIDAYS: IT IS
ACROBATIC HYPOCRISY – MURIC
The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)
has accused critics of the Ramadan holidays given by four Northern states of acrobatic
hypocrisy. The group cited the examples of two Christian governors who extended
Christmas holidays in the past without attracting comments.
A statement
signed by the group’s Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, gave the
rationale for declaring this year’s Ramadan holidays.
The full statement reads:
“The extension of the first
term holiday by four Northern States (Bauchi, Katsina, Kano, and Kebbi) to accommodate
the Ramadan season has ignited massive hullabaloo in certain quarters with the
apex Christian body, the Christian Association of Nigeria, leading the outcry.
“But the reality is that these critics are exhibiting
acrobatic hypocrisy. They were all in this country when Benue
State Governor, Hyacinth Iormem Alia announced an extension of the Christmas
and New Year holidays from Tuesday, December 24, 2024 to Sunday, January 6, 2025 (https://thepapers.ng/2024/12/25/christmas-nigerian-governor-extends-public-holiday-for-civil-servants-reasons-emerge/).
“Governor Bassey Otu of Cross Rivers State also extended Christmas
and New Year holidays by 14 days starting from 20th December, 2023 and
ending on 2nd January, 2024. (https://www.thecable.ng/otu-declares-14-day-christmas-holiday-in-cross-river/)
“If that of Otu is one year
old, what of Alia’s declaration which occurred just two months ago? Why is it
that it is only when the Muslims do something that there is a Tsunami of
criticisms but the Christians can do anything under the sun, no matter how
queer, without anyone raising an eyebrow? It is a case of the pot calling the kettle
black. This selective acts of mass amnesia will do Nigeria no good.
“Objective criticism should
be for everyone, not one yardstick for the Muslims and another parameter for
the Christians. It exposes those behind it as people guilty of gymnastic selfrighteousness.
“At this juncture, it may be germane to disclose other
rationale for granting extensions for Ramadan holiday. Large scale absenteeism
and poor perspicacity coupled with low academic performance have been observed
for decades among students in some Northern states.
“This has been traced to their exposure to severe weather,
poverty and subjection to inhuman conditions, particularly during Ramadan. For
instance, the weather forecast for the Ramadan period in that zone this year
has been put at 38 to 42 degrees Celsius. There is no doubt that this is hostile
weather.
“In a situation where poverty and poor infrastructure has
forced about 90% of the students to trek to and fro school over long distances,
it is understandable that the authorities decided to shut down schools during
Ramadan otherwise hunger and dehydration may spell untold disaster. We do not
want to see students dropping dead by the roadsides.
“Who feels it knows it. Instead
of ventilating clangorous diatribes and rancorous
vitriols on the governors of those four states, Nigerians should commend them
for adding a human face to governance. They extended the first term holiday on compassionate
grounds and it is those who oppose the demonstration of mercy towards Muslim
children who have chemical dislocation in their blood vessels.
“Both
federal and state governments have been known to extend holidays. The Federal
Government extended holidays of tertiary institutions in March 2023 when the governorship
and house of assembly elections were postponed (https://thecandournews.com/breaking-fg-extends-students-holiday-announces-new-resumption-date/).
Heaven did not fall at that time.
“The
Christian Association should carry its members in academic institutions along
in matters like this. Had CAN done this, such members would have supplied
useful information. They would have told CAN that such
extensions are often done in the interest of the students. The school calendars
will be adjusted later.
“Interestingly enough, the four
state governments also revealed that school calendars would be adjusted to cater
for lost grounds but detractors conveniently elected to ignore this.
“Those four
Muslim governors have also been wrongly accused of violating the rights of
Christian students when even the Muslim students are also on holidays with their
Christian counterparts and no separate academic exercise has been planned by
the state governments for the Muslims at the detriment of the Christian students.
“Neither is
the impression of neglect of educational pursuits of children correct. For
example, the government of Kano announced scholarship for more than 1,000 students in foreign countries just a few days ago. But none of these critics deemed it
fit to applaud Kano for this action. That is inconsistency. It is prejudice.
The credibility of critics will be enhanced if they balance their views.
“MURIC
appeals to Nigerians to avoid spontaneous judgement. Such action is often based
on emotions. It can lead to distorted assessment. Let us compare and contrast.
Let us look at both the peripheral and tangential issues before coming to
conclusions.
#AcrobaticHypocrisy
#StressFreeRamadan
Professor
Ishaq Akintola,
Founder/Executive
Director,
Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC).
