Ondo Muslims demand Islamic New Year holiday

MUSLIMS in Ondo State have called on the state governor, Mr Rotimi Akeredolu, to declare the first day of the Islamic year, Muharram 1, public holiday in the state.

The state coordinator of the National Council of Muslim Youth Organisations (NACOMYO), Alhaji Abdul Yekin Alli, made the call on behalf of the state’s Muslim community the during the celebration of the 1443 A.H. in Akure.

Alli urged the governor to emulate his colleagues who declared Muharram 1 a work-free day in their states.

According to him, such a declaration would enable Muslim public servants to participate in the celebration of the Islamic New year and increase the sense of belonging of Muslims in the state.

He equally implored the state government to do more in creating job opportunities for “the teeming youths who are graduating yearly in their thousands with little or no hope of gaining employment.”

In a lecture, the guest speaker, the Executive Secretary of the Muslim Ummah of South West Nigeria (MUSWEN), Professor Muslih Yahya, urged Muslims to be conscious of their Creator in their everyday activities.

Professor Yahya said the country is facing challenges presently because of inordinate love for money and because of leaders’ insensitivity to people’s plight.

The MUSWEN leader said: “Ours is a nation where the majority of the people are believers in God while a considerable majority of the believers lack the appropriate approach to handling God’s injunctions and guidelines, and remain adamant to the consequences of their attitude.

“What we can do is to follow the guidance of Allah and His Prophet Muhammad (SAW) and see how the approach can reform individual citizens and give our society a new orientation.

“Our target is to encourage and motivate every individual citizen to seek to strike a balance between earning the pleasure of Allah hereafter and at the same time living well enough in this world.”

The Chief Imam of Akureland, Alhaji Akeem Akorede, urged Muslims and Christians in the state to shun divisive tendencies and live in peace with one another, while advising religious leaders to put aside animosity and work together for the peace and unity of the state.

Akorede commended Governor Akeredolu for identifying with Muslims in the state.

He said Akeredolu remained the only governor to appoint as many as six Muslim commissioners in his cabinet and construct a mosque inside the government house.

He advised Muslims to remain steadfast and committed to the worship of Allah and continue to pray for the prosperity of the state and Nigeria as a whole.

“We are faced with enormous challenges today in Nigeria because we have refused to be steadfast in service to God. We have refused to trust and depend on God.

“We need to retrace our steps, avoid unlawful acts, pray and communicate more with God and allow Him to do His will. We should depend solely on Allah for everything because He does not forget His duties,” the cleric said.

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