Muslim Media Practitioners reiterate call for Hijrah National Public Holiday, reveals steps taken so far

In the Hijrah 1443 A.H Message, the National President of MMPN, Alhaji Abdur-Rahman Balogun said such a declaration would be in line with the rule of law, fairness and justice to Muslims in Nigeria.

Balogun urged the Federal Government to give recognition to Muslim New Year in the interest of fairness as benefitted by the Christian brethren on every January 1.

This gesture, he stressed, would give Muslims a sense of belonging in the polity.

“Muharram 1, is our own January 1, we want both the Federal and state governments alike to declare it as such in the interest of religious harmony in the country”, Balogun said.

Alhaji Balogun also said his Muslim media Organisation has taken some pragmatic steps in demanding for every Muharram first to be declared National Public Holiday in line with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

He said, “The demand for National Hijrah holiday has always been one of the major requests of our organisation anytime we have opportunity to engage the people in government.

“Apart from the yearly press releases, each time there is constitutional review or public hearing, we always put the demand in our memo, that we are yearning and asking that holiday should be given to Muslims in Nigeria to mark their New Year; we also lobby various Committees at the National Assembly to move a motion on the Hijrah Holiday.

“We hope that sooner or later, our request shall be granted,” he added while speaking with Muslim News on Sunday, August 8.

He implored government at various levels to recognise the Hijrah calendar and use it side by side with the Gregorian calendar in line with the country status as a multi-religous state.

Balogun 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.

He asked Muslims to use the opportunity of the New Year to migrate from their evil ways in the past to renew their commitments in the New Year and pray to Allah to end the scourge of Covid-19 pandemic which had ravaged the world and insecurity challenges in Nigeria.

The MMPN President also called on the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) to enter into dialogue with the Nigerian Government on the issue.

He implored Muslims to rededicate themselves to the cause of building an egalitarian society and join hands with other Nigerians in moving the nation forward. .

Balogun, however, commended state governors who had declared public holiday for Islamic New Year especially in the Northern part of the country as well as Oyo and Osun states in South West, urging others to emulate their colleagues.

He described series of attacks on innocent Nigerians by some insurgency groups as unIslamic and pleaded with the affected groups to cease fire and stop violence as a demonstration of its readiness to embrace peace.

Balogun equally called for a stringent legislation against rapist in the country, saying it was getting too rampant because the culprits always get away with it.