Nigerian Muslims joined the rest of the Muslim world in celebrating the beginning of the Islamic new year (hijrah) on Thursday, 26th June, 2025. Meanwhile an Islamic human rights organization, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has lamented that whereas the Federal Government (FG) of Nigeria did not declare the day as a public holiday, several Nigerian states, North and South, gave special recognition to the Muslim calendar by declaring the day as a public holiday.
By failing to declare the first day of hijrah as a holiday, MURIC added, FG not only missed the golden opportunity to be part of the day’s glamour, not only failed to manifest unreserved goodwill, but also failed to act in loco parentis by leading the declaration of the freedom day. The group also described the situation as the paradox of a Muslim-Muslim ticket.
A statement signed by the group’s Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, on Monday, 30th June, 2025, reads:
“Nigerian Muslims joined the rest of Islamdom to mark the beginning of the Islamic new year (Hijrah 1447) on Thursday, 26th June, 2025.
“Although the Federal Government (FG) of Nigeria did not declare the day as a public holiday, several Nigerian states, North and South, gave special recognition to the Muslim calendar by declaring its first day as a public holiday.
*“By failing to declare the first day of the Islamic calendar as a holiday, FG not only missed the golden opportunity to be part of the day’s glamour, not only failed to manifest unreserved goodwill, but also failed to act in loco parentis by leading the declaration of the freedom day.*
“This strange situation is the paradox of a Muslim-Muslim ticket. It is paradoxical because we see FG as the parent of all the states and the states as its offsprings or children. While the blame for FG cascades down to successive administrations since independence in 1960, the current administration must take the lion share because of the high hopes and confidence reposed in it the Muslim electorate.
“Prominent among the states that declared hijrah holiday are the following in alphabetical order: Borno (Thursday), Jigawa (Friday), Kano (Thursday), Katsina (Friday), Kwara (Thursday), Kebbi (Friday), Niger (Friday), Osun (Friday), Oyo (Friday), Sokoto (Thursday) and Zamfara (Friday).
*“Yet a disturbing phenomenon may be noticed in the choice of days picked for holidays in different states. While Borno, Kano, Kwara and Sokoto picked Thursday, Jigawa, Katsina, Kebbi, Niger, Osun, Oyo and Zamfara declared Friday.*
*“This disparity and lack of harmony can only be blamed on FG because as the centre and pilot of the nation’s air carrier, FG is expected to lead the states. Had FG made a declaration the states would have fallen behind it, pronto.*
“But FG chose to sit on the fence and elected to do no more than issue an official statement merely admonishing Muslims but devoid of any real and concrete declaration capable of emancipating them from neo-colonial shackles FG as the parent body failed to act in loco parentis. It left Muslims scattered like wild oats as some went for Thursday while others elected to declare Friday.
“It is hard to understand a situation whereby an integral part of the Nigerian population, nay, the greater percentage, will engage in an important religious activity to which FG will turn its back and close its eyes but the same FG will somersault ten times over while dancing to the rhythm of the music of a minority religious group.
Is that fair? How can FG continue to treat the adherents of one religion like genuine children and the adherents of another like slaves? Interestingly, too, this has been repeated under two Muslims who occupy Aso Rock. It is the paradox of a Muslim-Muslim ticket.
“It is interesting to note that hijrah day is not a new development. Many states had recognized it in the past and on annual basis. The Aregbesola administration in Osun State was the first to recognize it down South. But this was after decades of agitations by Islamic organisations.
“Many Muslim groups demanded holiday for this year’s celebration but FG gave them the cold shoulder as usual. Agitating for the day last week, the Muslim Media Practioners Association (MMPA) through their National President, Alhaji Abdur-Rahman Balogun, called on FG to give Muslims the hijrah holiday ‘in line with the principles of fairness and justice to millions of Muslims in Nigeria as it was granted to the Christian brethren on every January 1 of the Gregorian Calendar’. (https://muslimnews.com.ng/2025/06/28/mmpn/).
“Before dropping the anchor, MURIC deems it germane to express its deepest gratitude to those state governments that gave due recognition to Hijrah day 1447, especially Osun and Oyo in the South. Lagos, Ogun, Ekiti and Ondo failed to give the Muslim day due recognition. Ogun State governor allegedly refused to allow NACOMYO, an umbrella organization for Muslim youth, to use the state’s stadium for its programme slated for the day. By their fruits, thou shalt know them.
“In keeping with our tradition of pacific dispensation as well as staying in consonance with the avowed motto of our organization from inception (Dialogue, No Violence), we urge Nigerian Muslims to remain good ambassadors of Islam by embracing non-violence like MURIC in the pursuit of all their lofty goals, particularly Hijrah holiday. We will not give up because it is not over until it is over. Aluta continua, Victoria Ascerta. No retreat, No Surrender.”
