The immediate former Special Assistant to Oyo State Governor on Islamic Affairs, Alhaji AbdRasheed AbdAzeez has commended Gov. Seyi Makinde for declaring a public holiday to mark this year’s Hijrah 1445AH.
Imam, in a statement personally signed on Wednesday, stated that the governor has fulfilled his promise made since 2021 that holiday would be declared to mark the Islamic New Year.
He appreciate the governor for recognising the significance of the Islamic New Year, which begins with Muharram, the first month of the Islamic calendar.
The former aide, who equally congratulated and wished the entire Muslim ummah a happy celebration of the new Islamic calendar, noted that the governor has always shown he is a lover of Islam.
The statement said: “In commemoration of Hijrah 1445 AH Islamic New Year for all Muslims, Oyo State Governor, His Excellency, ‘Seyi Makinde, has done tremendously well in declaring today, Wednesday, as a public holiday throughout the state.
“I can remember that the governor, in 2021, during the State Mawlud Nabiyy celebration promised that there will be an holiday to celebrate the hijrah annually. There is a unique thing about the date, which governor chose for the holiday. It actually tallies with the divine day that hijrah day should be observed.
“There are some states in the country that did not pick the exact date but, as a Pacesetter state, the governor has been picking the exact date since 2021 when the declaration was made to mark the new Islamic year.
“Another plus to the celebration in Oyo State is that, there are different activities that characterise the day and make it colourful. We hold Hijrah luncheon where people will be given different gift items to commemorate the day every year.
“So, this has shown to the world that the governor is a lover of the Islamic religion,” he added.
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