The National Christian Elders’
Forum, NCEF, has frowned at the decision of the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad
Abubakar III to declare September 12 as public holiday in commemoration of
Eid-El-Kabir celebration.
Chairman of NCEF, Solomon Asemota,
SAN, in a statement, described the Sultan’s action as the height of impunity.
NCEF in the statement said, “We
unequivocally wish to state that it is very improper for the head of the
Islamic faith in Nigeria to announce, declare, or extend Public Holidays.
“This is the function of the Federal
Government and need not be abdicated. This kind of anomalous development has
not been taking place in Nigeria until the advent of the Buhari Administration
which has gone to great lengths to deepen religious divide and tension in
Nigeria.
“Again, we have no objection
whatsoever to the Muslim Public Holiday but our concern is that in a secular
society as enshrined in Section 10 of the Constitution, the responsibility of
declaring or announcing a religious Public Holiday is vested in the Federal
Government and such responsibility is sacrosanct.”

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