SULTAN of Sokoto and President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar has declared September 1, as Eid-El-Kabir Day.
This is contained in a statement issued in Abuja yesterday by NSCIA Director of Administration Ustaz Isa Okonkwo.
“The President-General of NSCIA and Sultan of Sokoto has approved Wednesday, 23rd of August, 2017 as the 1st day of Dhul-Hijjah, 1438AH.
“The council hereby enjoins the Nigerian Muslim community to continue to promote peaceful coexistence and unity among all the citizens of the country,” he said.
Okonkwo said the decision by NSCIA was in accordance with the calculation of Saudi Arabia, where Hajj (pilgrimage) is being observed.
He said: “There was no positive sighting of the crescent of Dhul-Hijjah, 1438AH in Nigeria on the 29th of Dhul-Qa’dah, 1438AH, equivalent to August 22, 2017.
“This is owing to the fact that the weather was predominantly bad for sighting of the crescent of Dhul-Hijjah in most cities of Nigeria.
“However, scholars have advised His Eminence, the President-General, to declare Wednesday, August 23, 2017 as the first day of Dhul-Hijjah, 1438AH, in accordance with the calculation of Saudi Arabia, where Hajj is performed.”
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ReplyDeleteIs it in the Sultan's purview to publicly declare an holiday in Nigeria, even the Islamic ones? He should advice the relevant authority on when the holiday is to be observed. Nigeria is a secular State, not an Islamic State where head of any religion should be declaring holidays publicly. What's the function of the Internal Affairs Ministry?
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