Youth Groups Challenge Sultan Of Sokoto For Declaring Sallah On The 12th Of September, Saying He Has No Right
A coalition of 22 Christian groups in Nigeria led by National Christian Elders Forum (NCEF), yesterday, said the declaration of September 12 as public holiday in commemoration of Eid-El-Kabir celebration by the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, was the height of impunity.
A similar incident took place in July 2016, when Christian organisations criticised the extension of public holiday by the Federal Government over the non-sighting of the moon by the Sultan.
A statement issued by the chairman of NCEF, Mr. Solomon Asemota (SAN), on behalf of the coalition and obtained by journalists in Abuja, said it was “very improper for the head of the Islamic faith in Nigeria to announce, declare, or extend public holidays.” He furthermore stressed that only the FederalGovernment has such power to declare the date of any holiday – national or international.
Nigeria seems to be back to the era of sultanate.
NCEF has deliberately twisted the Sultan’s declaration of Id al-Kabiir day as if the latter had declared a public holiday. For the avoidance of doubts, there is a difference between declaration of Salah day and declaration of a public holiday. Only the Federal Government can declare a public holiday in the country while governors alone can declare it in the states. But the Sultan reserves the right to declare the day for a Muslim festival. CAN has no locus standi to question him. Or did the Sultan declare Christmas day?
*NCEF ha no locus standi