₦airaland Forum

Very few Nigerians will know the renowned musician named Kokoma Ikpong, but majority of people will know her as a very wealthy and young business lady. Few days before this interview, our press team was alerted that she was in town and luckily she was spotted having ... continue below

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I read the above captioned editorial in your PUNCH edition of Tuesday November 20, first on-line and later on page 18, of that edition and I have the following observations.

You claimed that the decision of the Osun state government to declare Hijrah holiday for its over 50 per cent Muslim population in the state “was odd and totally uncalled for”.

Interestingly, you quoted Public Holidays Act, which empower a state Governor to declare a public holiday in a state but you put a caveat that: “such powers should not be used to further religious interests”, but can it be used to further political interests?

Mark you, Public Holidays Act (PHA) chapter 378 recognises declaring public holiday on “New Year Day”, not January 1, but New Year Day.

In the said editorial, you also stated that “Interestingly, many predominantly Muslim states do not even have public holidays for Hejira”, this is wrong and not correct as Iran , Malaysia, and some states in Nigeria like Niger, Sokoto, Kano, Zamfara do declare public holidays for Hijrah.

You may also wish to go to Israel (the origin of Christianity) and complain to Benjamin Netanyahu on why Sunday, Christmas day, 1st January, Easter, etc are not declared Public holidays? As you claimed about Saudi Arabia not declaring public holiday for Hijrah.

Aregbesola acted within the law and if the PUNCH Management thinks otherwise, Court should be the option rather than writing a strange editorial.

Another misinformation and a wrong mind set in the said editorial is what I termed the wrong definition of the word “Secular”.

You stated “and what was the fortuitous holiday meant to achieve in a secular society like Osun”,

There is no such society or state in Nigeria. Nigeria is a multi-religious state and not secular. Secularism means a state without any religion or a system of social teaching which allows no part for religion.

In as much as I am not speaking for Osun state government nor the Governor as I have no such power or affiliation but your claim that Aregbesola “false optimism that his frivolous holiday “will promote religious harmony in the state” falls wide of the mark”, is unfair on the Governor nor the state, as there was nothing wrong in giving a holiday to the Osun worshippers to be able to worship their deity. This to me is the spirit of religious harmony.

I am aware that the Ijebus do have Ojude Oba celebration on the third day of Ileya celebration in Ijebu-Ode, if such day falls within Mondays to Fridays; the Ogun state government usually gives a work free day with the Governor in attendance to mark it.

The editorial also claimed that “Already, Nigeria is known for too many holidays. Excessive public holidays cause productivity slowdown and set the economy back”.

In as much as this statement seems to be considerate, a friend from Saudi Arabia sent in this while writing this rejoinder that “Saudi Arabia gives 10 days each as holidays during the Eid-el Fitr and Eid-el Adha. 15 days before and after, yet that did not affect its oil production and supply and we have not heard that OPEC has been disturbed by it.”

Another friend from Malaysia wrote: “When will Nigerians have large hearts to see clearly for eyes cannot do it! So if Saudi doesn’t have it, we must not, then let’s copy Saudi to the letter, Saudi weekend is Thursday and Friday, lets embrace it.

Saudi women cover, lets embrace it, etc.

Moreover, we had Hijrah day as public holiday in Malaysia. Funny enough, Tuesday (Nov. 13) was Deepavali holiday for Hindus while Thursday (Nov. 15) was Hijrah holiday for the Muslims.

When will Nigerians have large hearts to see clearly for eyes cannot do it!

I doubt if any country has holidays for religions as Malaysia withThaipusam and Chinese new year holidays for Buddhists, Deepavali for Hindus.

To crown it all, all states in Malaysia have Saturday and Sunday as work free while only Melaka spend weekend on Thursday and Friday.

All these rapport and accommodating values exist among Muslim, Hindu and Buddhist citizens of Malaysia till this 3.26pm Tuesday, 20/11/2012 (Malaysian time)’’.

Malaysia, I learnt, has about 13 National Holidays and variety of other holidays at the state level and this does not disturb its economic advancement.

Also, Dominican Republic as listed below has 17 holidays in a year and it has nothing to do with her economic development.

Dominican Republic

1 January – New Year’s Day
6 January – Dia de Reyes (Epiphany)
21 January – Dia de la Altagracia
26 January – Duarte Day (Juan Pablo Duarte)
February – Dominican Carnival
27 February – Independence Day
24 April – Viernes Santo
1 May – Labor Day and Ascension Day
22 May – Corpus Christi
Last Sunday in May – Dia de las Madres
Last Sunday in July – Dia de los Padres
16 August – Dia de la Restauración (Restoration Day)
24 September – Dia de las Mercedes (Mercedes’ Day)
6 November – Constitution Day
5 December – Discovery Day Commemorates the arrival of Christopher Colombus
24 December – Christmas Eve
25 December – Christmas Day

For want of space, I will like to recommend this site to the Punch editorial team on the list of holidays country by country: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_holidays_by_country

In Nigeria, however, States like Kano, Sokoto on Thursday Nov. 15, 2012 declared work free day to mark the new Islamic year 1434 A.H in the states while Niger and Zamfara declared half-day. Cross check this with your correspondents.

Nigeria Public Holiday Act recognises New Year as public holiday and such, it must be declared for both Muslims and Christians being the two major recognised and predominant religions in Nigeria.

To Muslims worldwide, January 1, is not their New Year, but Muharram 1, which coincided with Thursday Nov. 15.

So, what Governor Rauf Aregbesola has done was to encourage religious harmony and peaceful co-existence in the state in accordance with the law which other Governors in the country should emulate.

When the Federal Government declared May 29, as Democracy Day and some states especially in the South West declared June 12, as their own Democracy Day, the Punch editorial did not see that as odd and championing regional or political interest?

Why is it that anything that has to do with religion, especially Islam, we hypocritically pretend as if it does not exist?

Religion is already part of us and cannot be exclusively in the private realm in this country as appointments, elections, public gathering, pilgrimages, education curricula, mode of dressing, praying and speaking are part of our life.

I am of the opinion that Gov. Rauf Aregbesola and his executive council team should be commended for their pro-activeness as against this strange editorial on a matter that the state has constitutional right over.

Even, before he became Governor of Osun State, I have seen and read Aregbesola identifying with the Osun worshippers and Christians in Osun state. So giving everybody in the state its due, will not only promote peace but religious harmony among the adherents of the faithful.

I don’t know of any state or country that goes into crisis as a result of public holiday as alleged in your strange editorial that Aregbesola’s fairness in Osun was capable of causing religious mayhem in the state.

You wrote: “The abusive manipulation of religious causes has to stop. Osun State should not be turned into a new centre of full-scale religious extremism in the country’’

This definitely is provocative and itself capable of causing disaffection among the people of Osun state who are not complaining.

As media practitioners, I think our judgment on all issues should not be biased, tainted, subjective and coloured with political undertones. It must be factual, accurate, fair, objective, educative and corrective.

Thanks.

Abdur-Rahman Balogun

Chairman, Muslim Media Practitioners of Nigeria (MMPN)
muslimmediaabj@yahoo.com (08052729751)
Plot 570 Jikwoyi-Karshi road, Jikwoyi,
Abuja.

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Former chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, has said that with a clean and sanitised oil and gas sector, there will not be any need to remove subsidy on oil.

Speaking with journalists after paying condolence visit to the family of the late Dr Olusola Saraki in Ilorin on Monday, Mallam Ribadu, who was also the chairman of a panel that recently investigated the oil and gas sector, expressed hope that the report submitted by the panel would be implemented.

“I want a clean sector. I want the industry sanitised. I believe if we clean up the sector, if we do what is right and proper, it is big enough to go round,” he said.

Mallam Ribadu also called for the collective efforts of all, adding that the industry needed improvement and change.

“This is a journey. We are doing our part, believing every other person would do theirs to support us. The industry requires improvement and change. Hopefully, with what we’ve done, implementation will take place and I believe changes will come to the industry. The government wisely thought up reforms, out of which people were invited to contribute and participate. We’ve seen it, hoping the implementation will come. There’s that possibility because, as you know, you and me, we are worried about our country”, he said.

Mallam Ribadu also said there was hope for a better Nigeria, particularly with growing enthusiasm among Nigerians.

“There’s hope for Nigeria. If you see the enthusiasm, the interest around everybody, you’ll conclude there’s hope for this country. People believe in Nigeria People are worried and concerned. We want a better life. And if you have a population like that with interest, passion, certainly, you’ll say there’s hope. We are working hard and if you work, you’ll see result. Today, all of us are concerned and worried. All of us will want to participate. All of us will want to see a better tomorrow and better Nigeria. This is what I can call hope. The belief that tomorrow will certainly be a better day than today. And that we make today a better one than yesterday. I am encouraged daily. I can certainly pray that we see a country we will be so proud of and feel comfortable with one another and adress our problems collectively and live in peace, security, stability, brotherliness and love,” he said.

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Don hails Aregbesola over Awolowo Centre for Philosophy

A retired professor of Philosophy and proponent of Awolowo ideas, Professor Ola Makinde, has hailed the establishment of the Awolowo Centre for Philosophy, Ideology and Good Governance by the Osun State governor, Mr Rauf Aregbesola, saying the centre will chart a direction for good governance in the country.

Professor Makinde, while speaking on the new centre with the Nigerian Tribune in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, said “the establishment of the centre is one of the greatest ways by which the legacy Chief Obafemi Awolowo left behind can be preserved and maximally utilised for the benefits of the present and future generations to engender integrity, Yoruba culture and values, ethics, and the art of good governance in Nigeria and Africa.”

Makinde, who noted that the establishment of the centre was long overdue 24 years after the exit of the sage, stated that “…the centre exists to serve the whole of South-West, including Edo and Delta as parts of the West.”

The don said when the centre becomes fully operational, “it is expected to spread its tentacles to Kwara, Kogi and many of the progressive states in the North and South of Nigeria.”

http://www.osundefender.org/?p=68644


We Are Not Bourgeois Government – Aregbesola
Governor, the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has said funds for the development of the state and local governments would not be put in few hands of selfish politicians to feather their nest, but for collective gains.

Addressing the congregation of Baptist Church Idi-Ape, Ejigbo, at its 120th anniversary, the State Chief Executive stressed that his government has a larger plan for the state that could not encourage putting government funds in the hands of those who would not deliver, but use the money to feather their nest.

The governor who was represented by the Speaker, the State House of Assembly of Osun, Rt. Hon. Najeem Salaam also reiterated that the state of Osun may be having limited funds to execute its developmental projects, but every lifeline available to the government would be used for the collective advantage of the generality of the people of the state.

Speaking on the need to understand the working of the government, Speaker Najeem Salaam urged the people to keep their eyes on projects that have general appeal instead of individual gains which has promoted decay in the societal system.

He said, “we can understand challenges facing the masses, but the judicious use of the limited funds accrued to the government on projects with collective appeal is the difference between the government of the people and regime of few bourgeois”.

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If tinubu does not want regionalism, who else does, hm, i pity u guys.
no matter what you do people must talk. its quite pity that we nigerians dont value what we have until we lose them. even baba awolowo was not valued until we lose him. those castigating tinubu will not value him untill after after his death. if not for him, the yoruba race would have been rubished patapata. tinubu, eyan nie maa base e lo.even the ondo election that most people are thinking mimiko won clearly revelation are begining to unveil how mimiko connived with inec to rig the whole state. if he did not rig, why evade the tribunal? pl read this. http://www.osundefender.org/?p=69953

no matter what you do people must talk. its quite pity that we nigerians dont value what we have until we lose them. even baba awolowo was not valued until we lose him. those castigating tinubu will not value him untill after after his death. if not for him, the yoruba race would have been rubished patapata. tinubu, eyan nie maa base e lo.even the ondo election that most people are thinking mimiko won clearly revelation are begining to unveil how mimiko connived with inec to rig the whole state. if he did not rig, why evade the tribunal? pl read this. http://www.osundefender.org/?p=69953

Checkout those who could kill your dreams http://www.osundefender.org/?p=69831

Pa Awolowo is a phenomenon, though he died long ago, but his legacies are yet unmatched. they will persist to make reference to him till thy kingdom come

I think the world leaders should find a solution to the menace. its horrible.
get a glance at this. http://www.osundefender.org/?s=Children+Worst+Hit+By+Gaza+Conflict+-UNICEF&x=11&y=5