National Christian Elders Forum condemns Sultan of Sokoto declaring public holiday

NIGERIA'S National Christian Elders Forum (NCEF) has condemned the recent declaration of September 12 as a public holiday by the Sultan of Sokoto and president of the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar adding that it smacks of usurpation of government functions.

 

Earlier this week, Sultan Abubakar declared the day a public holiday to celebrate the Eid-el-Kabir festivities across the country. However, the NCEF, a coalition of 22 Christian groups has condemned the move, saying that only the government should have the right to declare a public holiday in Nigeria.

 

In the past, the NCEF has criticised President Muhammadu Buhari for taking instructions from the sultan. NCEF chairman Solomon Asemota, stated that it was very improper for the head of the Islamic faith in Nigeria to announce, declare or extend public holidays.

 

Mr Asemota said: “We call on the federal government to rise to its task and cease abdicating its responsibilities to the head of a religion. We do not want what happened during the time of Abacha, when Sultan Dasuki was dethroned by Abacha to repeat itself.

 

"It should not be forgotten that apart from Christianity and Islam, there exist in Nigeria various traditional religions that are the foundation of our culture as Africans. The federal government should continue to play its neutral, non-aligned role in the best interest of the nation, so meanwhile, we await the declaration of the Eid el-Kabir public holiday by the  Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

 

Members of the coalition include Nigerian Christian Graduate Fellowship, Think Tank For The Body Of Christ, Christian Lawyers Fellowship of Nigeria, Association of Christian Schools in Nigeria, Students Christian Movement, Christian Professionals Forum, Ministers Prayer Network, International Christian Embassy Jerusalem, Nigeria Evangelical Missions Association and International Prophetic Ministerial Association. Others are Intercessors Without Walls, Wailing Women International, Full Gospel Businessmen Fellowship, Nigerian Fellowship of Christian Students, University Joint Campus Christian Fellowship, Nigerian Christian Corpers Fellowship, Nigerian Supreme Council For Ecclesiastical Affairs, African Association for Ecclesiastical Affairs, The Preacher, The Messenger and Womb of Intercession International Fellowship.