By ‎Professor Ishaq Akintola

‎Nigerian states where hijrah holidays were declared during the week have been commended for promoting freedom of religion. Reeling out encomiums for the states was an Islamic human rights organization, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC).

‎A statement signed by the group’s Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, on Saturday 20th June, described the states as Muslim-friendly and liberal. The statement urged the Federal Government (FG) to take the cue before it is too late.

‎MURIC elucidates further:

‎”Many state governments across Nigeria have declared Tuesday, 16th June 2026, a public holiday to commemorate the beginning of the Islamic New Year (Hijrah 1448 AH).

‎”Among such states are Borno, Kano, Kebbi, Katsina, Kwara, Niger, Yobe in the North and Oyo, Osun in the South. The state governments used the occasion to urge Nigerians to pray for peace, unity and national development.

‎”We give kudos to those states where the Hijrah holiday was declared. We salute their courage and tenacity. We hail them for exhibiting the principles of equal rights of justice. They have proved beyond reasonable doubt that they are Muslim-friendly and liberal. These are states promoting freedom of religion.

‎”Literally, the word ‘hijrah‘ means ‘migration’ and the declaration of holiday in this regard was in recognition of the migration of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) from Makkah to Madinah in 622 CE.

‎”Muhammad (SAW) migrated from a city where he and his followers faced severe persecution to another where they received hospitality. Therefore, hijrah stands for freedom from oppression, emancipation from poverty and liberation from all forms of enslavement.

‎”Hijrah period is a time for reflection, prayer and community spirit. It is a time people come together to pray for peace, unity, prosperity and divine blessings for the state and the country.

‎”MURIC urges the Federal Government (FG) to recognize the first day of the Islamic calendar. This is the only way the central government can prove that Muslims and Christians are being treated equally. 1st January of every year is declared holiday since the colonial days. The first day of the Islamic calendar also deserves recognition if Nigeria is practicing true democracy.

‎”The handwriting is on the wall. It is neither the ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics of 3300 BC nor the Mesopotamian cuneiform of 3200 BC. This writing is in plain English, neither the antiquitous, heavily Germanic Anglo-Saxon English of the 5th to 11th centuries nor the Middle English of the post-Norman conquest of 1066.

‎”It is high time FG took the cue by declaring the first day of the Islamic calendar a public holiday. The demand for this has been made severally via notable Islamic organizations in the country.

‎”It is one way of giving sense of belonging to Nigerian Muslims and a sure path to the de-christianisation of a country hitherto heavily structured along Christian culture.

‎”We noted conflict in the dates declared by the various state governments. For while some picked Tuesday, 16th June, 2026, others declared the following day. It is our considered opinion that by aligning with the hijrah project, FG can bring harmony if it declares a single day for the whole country.”

‎Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC).