Ramadan
By Akeem Atoyebi
The Middle Belt Forum has berated the closure of public and private schools in parts of Kebbi and Southern Bauchi states to observe Ramadan, calling it unjust to non-Muslim students.
In a statement made available journalists in Kaduna on Sunday, MBF national spokesman, Luka Binniyat, stated that the move heightened fears that Sharia law in these states fails to distinguish between Muslims and non-Muslims.
“It is deeply unjust that non-Muslim students should suffer setbacks in their education simply because Muslims wish to fulfill their religious obligations,” Binniyat said.
The MBF likened the directive to Boko Haram’s anti-Western education ideology and warned that Nigeria must not overlook its implications.
The group reaffirmed its call for restructuring, referencing growing intolerance toward non-Muslims.
“The urgency of restructuring grows as we continue to witness increasing restrictions on the freedoms of non-Muslims in these states,” Binniyat stated.
The MBF implored President Bola Tinubu to intervene and prevent the affected states from sliding into religious fundamentalism.
It also criticised former President Olusegun Obasanjo for not taking a firm stance on Nigeria’s secular status, arguing that a stronger position could have prevented such policies.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu must exercise his authority to prevent these states from descending into religious fundamentalism. Had former President Olusegun Obasanjo firmly asserted that Nigeria and all its federating units must remain a secular state, as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution, such issues might never have arisen.
“President Tinubu must learn from this precedent and take a firm stand to safeguard the rights and privileges of all non-Muslims against the oppressive effects of Sharia-based policies,” MBF stated.
