Some Christian groups
in Nigeria condemned the Federal Government over the declaration, by the
Sultan of Sokoto, of September 12, 2016 as public holiday in commemoration of
Eid-el-Kabir celebration. According to the Groups, declaration of public
holidays by the Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of Supreme Council for
Islamic Affairs, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, smacks of usurpation of government
functions.
The condemnation came
barely two months after a similar incident in which they criticized the action
of the Sultan, accusing President Muhammadu Buhari of taking instructions from
the him.
In a statement issued
by Mr. Solomon Asemota (SAN), on behalf of the coalition, he stated that it was
“very improper for the head of the Islamic faith in Nigeria to announce,
declare or extend public holidays.
“We call on the
federal government to rise to its task and cease abdicating its
responsibilities to the head of a religion. We do not want what happened during
the time of Abacha, when Sultan Dasuki was dethroned by Abacha to repeat
itself. It should not be forgotten that apart from Christianity and Islam,
there exist in Nigeria various traditional religions that are the foundation of
our culture as Africans.”
“The federal
government should continue to play its neutral, non-aligned role in the best
interest of the nation. Meanwhile, we await the declaration of the Eid el-Kabir
public holiday by the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” the coalition stated.
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