President Buhari has been told to declare Hijrah holiday or cancel holiday for Christians.
The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) said the January 1st holiday is a Christian colonial creation designed to dignify and rubber-cushion the pomp and pageantry of Christmas.
The group however demanded the declaration of the first day of the Islamic calendar (1st Muharram) as a Hijrah holiday to justify the 1st January Gregorian holiday that is declared annually by the Federal Government of Nigeria.
MURIC argued that only the recognition of the first day of the Islamic new year can balance the equilibrium and ensure parity, justice, and fair play.
The Muslim rights group said the Federal Government should review “this Christian colonial heritage” for the sake of peace.
The group added that “if the government thinks this demand is unreasonable, FG should stop declaring 1st January as a holiday. That is when we will know who has been benefitting from it and who has been losing and hurting.”
MURIC’s demand was made on Friday, January 7 by its director, Professor Ishaq Akintola.