Osun declares holiday to mark Hijrah new year

Osun State Governor, Adegboyega Oyetola, has declared Monday as a public holiday in commemoration of Hijrah, 1443 AH.

The State Commissioner for Home Affair, Mr Tajudeen Lawal, while speaking on behalf of the Governor on Friday, enjoined the people of the State to use the period of the holiday to pray for the growth and development of the State and Nigeria.

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Meanwhile, the Muslim Media Practitioners of Nigeria (MMPN) has called on other states across the country and the federal government to declare Muharram 1, the first day of the Islamic Hijrah Calendar 1443 A.H, as a public holiday.

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.

He 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.

Balogun urged the federal government to give recognition to the Islamic New Year in the interest of fairness as benefitted by the Christian brethren on every January 1.

According to him, “Muharram 1 is the Islamic calendar equivalent of January 1 which is observed as a public holiday in Nigeria.

“Muslims worldwide will usher in the new Islamic year Hijrah 1443 A.H. on Monday, Aug. 9, 2021.

“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.

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.