Muslim groups demand holiday for Islamic New Year

FOR the umpteenth time, some Islamic groups have called on the Federal and State Governments to declare Muharram 1, the first day of the Islamic Hijrah year, as a public holiday.

The groups, in their separate Hijrah 1437 A.H messages, said such a declaration would be in line with the rule of law, fairness and justice to Muslims in the country.

The groups are Muslim Community of Oyo State (MUSCOYS); Muslim Consultative Forum (MCF); Muslim Media Practitioners of Nigeria (MMPN); Obafemi Awolowo University Muslim Graduates Association (UNIFEMGA); and Movement for Islamic Culture Awareness (MICA).

Others are the Bodija Muslim Youth Forum (BOMYOF), National Council of Muslim Youths Organisations (NACOMYO), Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) and Muslim Students Society of Nigeria (MSSN); Federation of Muslim Women Association in Nigeria (FOMWAN); Muslim Ummah of South West of Nigeria (MUSWEN); Islamic Media Awareness Forum (IMAF) among others.

In its Hijrah 1437 message, the Muslim Community of Oyo state called on Gov. Isiaka Ajimobi of Oyo state to declare a public holiday for the residents in Oyo state.

The message signed by Alhaji Kunle Sanni and Mursiq Siyanbade, Chairman and Secretary respectively, urged Ajimobi to emulate his colleague in Osun State, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola by declaring a similar Hijrah holiday in the state.

The Community also used the occasion to implore Muslims to turn a new leaf by jettison bad behaviour and embrace a new way of life in line with the dictates of Islam.

UNIFEMGA National President Prof. AbdulWahab Egbewole, in his message, called on the government at various levels to recognise the Hijrah calendar and use it side by side with the Gregorian calendar.
He congratulated Muslims and non-Muslims alike for witnessing another new Islamic year and urged them to reflect on their deeds and activities during the past year.

Egbewole also used the occasion to task all stakeholders in the education sector to put in more efforts in the interest of education advancement in the country.

On its part, the National Council of Muslim Youth Organisations (NACOMYO) implored Muslims to rededicate themselves to the cause of building an egalitarian society and join hands with other Nigerians in moving the nation forward.