Ramadan: MURIC Lampoons CAN Over Comments On School Closure
The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has berated the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) over its criticism of the closure of schools during Ramadan in four Northern states.
MURIC Director, Prof. Ishaq Akintola, on Monday, in a statement, said that CAN is exhibiting double standard, such that it encouraged a breach of the rights of Muslims who are in the majority in South Western Nigeria while pretending to protect Christian children who are a minority in the North.
OSUN DEFENDER reports that the Bauchi, Kano, Katsina, and Kebbi states have declared holidays for public and private schools during the month of Ramadan.
Speaking on the matter in his Sunday statement, Archbishop Okoh, said that education is a fundamental right and urged the governors of the affected states to reconsider this policy to promote equity and national cohesion.
However, Akintola, in a pushback, said, “Four Northern states (Bauchi, Katsina, Kano, and Kebbi) have extended the closure of schools in their states to give Muslim students a stress-free Ramadan period. However, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has criticized the action.
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“MURIC is bewildered by the insistence of CAN on playing the role of a meddlesome interloper in the affairs of Nigerian Muslims. Firstly, Ramadan is a completely Muslim issue. It involves no other faith. CAN should stay out of it.
“Secondly, Muslims are the overwhelming majority in those four states and the state governments in a democratic country like Nigeria should not deny the majority of Muslims what they wish. Furthermore, those four states have given the Muslim majority what they desire most based on the principle of ‘the greatest happiness for the greatest number’.
“CAN may want to learn more about allowing the majority to have its way from Jeremy Bentham’s ‘A Fragment on Government’ (1776) and his ‘Introduction to Morals and Legislation’ (1789). Those two books expatiated upon the principle of the greatest happiness for the greatest number. CAN may want to note that Muslim students are ‘the greatest number’ in those four states in this case,” Akintola said.
“How have the rights of Christian students been infringed upon in this situation? Did those state governments threaten not to allow them to resume after Ramadan? Were the Christian students asked to come to school every day during Ramadan to sweep and clean the classrooms? What exactly does CAN want? The apex Christian body should stop playing God in the affairs of Muslims,” Akintola said.
Olamilekan Adigun is a graduate of Mass Communication with years of experience in journalism embedded in uncovering human interest stories. He also prioritises accuracy and factual reportage of issues.
