Group Calls On FG To Recognize Islamic New Year

– Islamic group, MURIC has called on the federal government to strike a balance between religions in the country by recognizing the Islamic new year. 

– It claims the move would strengthen national unity recognition and togetherness.

Islamic group describes January 1st as holiday to a false Roman god.

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has called on the federal government of Nigeria recognize the Islamic new year just as recognition is given to January 1 as the beginning of the year.

The group submitted that the action would bridge the gap between Muslims and Christians in the country and would create a true national identity.

A statement signed by the group’s director, Prof. Ishaq Akintola, reads in part:

“As usual and since colonial days into Nigeria’s post-independence period, the Federal Government declared today, 1st January 2018, as a public holiday.”

“The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) observes that today’s holiday fully consolidated the two-day Christmas holiday and enabled Nigerian Christians to kick off the 2018 Christo-Western Gregorian calendar.”

“However, conscious Nigerian Muslims, particularly stakeholders in the welfare of Muslims as well as the growth and development of Islam in Nigeria, approached today’s holiday with mixed feelings.”

“Our feeling of marginalization arises from the reality of the Nigerian situation which has conditioned Muslims in the country for religious segregation and subjected them to spiritual apartheid.”

“Here we are today, enjoying January 1st holiday which was declared by the Federal Government (FG) of Nigeria in recognition of the Christo-Western Gregorian calendar.”

“But the same FG which recognizes this Christian calendar is yet to declare 1st Muharram a public holiday in recognition of the Islamic calendar despite several petitions and appeals to it dating back to the 60s. Surprisingly, some people still complain that Nigeria is Islamised!”

“Why is FG granting holiday for a false god of Rome and denying same for Allah the Creator of all things (Qur’an 2:29), the Judge of all Judges (95:8), Master of all masters (51:58) and the King of Kings (3:26).”

“Research reveals that 1st January is in honour of Janus, the Roman god of gates whom the Romans believed protected them from invasions. This is an incontrovertible fact. Why should FG force us to idolize the false god of Rome?”